To me, some people can't afford to spend the time for certain activities on this game, are they doomed to fall behind?
Yes, they are. And rightfully so. Why should those who spend the time to get higher quality goods immediately have access to that with real money? Time put in is what you should get out. There's no freebies or shortcuts. And my definition of winning is not just the quality game, though if sub tokens are the method to getting to the quality standard we have right now, what is the point in working for it in the game if you can just buy it? I don't want to be on the same level as someone who plays only an hour a day but pays money. That's ludicrous.
What part of "every aspect being changeable by things you can buy for real money right now" don't you agree with? You're aware that these items being purchased actually have an effect on almost EVERY crafting/crafted item, correct? A q100 kiln affects brick quality, and that affects smelter quality, and that affects metal quality, and that affects tool and weapon quality, and that affects the power/ability you have over other players. Curiosities are heavily affected by this as well. Some of the best curios are metal! Need I explain more? You can purchase high quality seeds with real money. With those seeds you get higher quality plants, higher quality foods, higher quality wood, etc.
Is there any justification to why you might think these things you can purchase with real money DON'T have a major effect on gameplay right now? You can't even purchase goods with anything other than sub tokens. You are quite literally forced to spend money to be at the level of other players, or somehow have gold, which even then has lower value.
Or spend weeks getting there, and by then the qualities will be even higher, and still purchasable with real money.
If you value time in this game more than money, why are you convinced people should be able to spend real money to "subsidize" the time? You HAVE to work hard for these things, if you aren't interested, or too lazy, you should not be able to shortcut your way to the top.