The non cosmetic Paradox DLCs fundamentally change the games so if you want to actually play the latest version of the game with all the mechanics you have to get them all. You can get them on steam sale usually for like 50 bucks a couple times a year.

I'm not defending it -- It is what colors me most against DLCs.

I still just don't like the idea of it -- Why not do a DLC for movies and paintings and books? It feels wrong to fork a work of art or say "Oh sorry I didn't actually make it all here's the other 20%"

Come to think of it -- Movie sequels are kind of like that these days where it's just one story broken up instead of multiple separate stories. I wish we just did 4 hour movies with intermission but I'm sure I'm alone there.