Pepperidge farm remembers

The difference is that microtransactions like the one depicted usually involve intentionally limiting a game, while cheat codes just make games easier. If a game is impossibly difficult without cheat codes but you can still play and try time and time again, that's okay. If the game is intentionally limited, slowed down or stopped, or takes parts away from the game to use as paid content (I'm talking about stuff that's clearly functional and available but locked behind a paywall, not DLC that adds to an already complete game), then your fun is held hostage until you pay up. You're right that the player ends up paying in both cases, but the difference is in how the game treats the player's access to fun.