Or are they? Most mobile games have changes that weren't acceptable by fans but yet the developer kept the change since they're making more money from it. Their views sometimes were business-wise.
It does feel like the events in Sonic Speed Sim are made in a way to make players spend either time or robucks on their game.
I imagine some board meeting between Sega and Gamefam, and they're like "Look how much playtime players are giving our game, therefore it must be good!"
Sega isn't asking "Are they having fun? You're not forcing them to do chores for menial gains?", just accepting the results as it is.