I would like to add something from my point of view.
From my point of view there is nothing like fairness in games, there will be always some point where someone feels less valuable because he/she had not enough time or money or or or … some of those examples are already mentioned in this topic.
What is the point of changing an older system – make it better, attract more new player or let the current ones be more motivated to play more or start again playing more.
So here is one suggestion (i don´t even think it`s the best possible).
Start from scratch with fighting stats – erase all to ZERO. (People would get angry for sure including myself)
Erase the stat bonus from tokens and leave them in the shop as visual bonus for crits only. (People would get angry again because the spend money fort hem, including myself)
Keep the permanent Stat bonus (e.g. Shield & Sword) in the shop.
Raise the stats of the colored & Rare creatures slightly.
Raise the possible stat gain from fighting.
You still will have a discussion in a year or so, that fighting is unfair, because grinders will be in lead even with this „change“ - they invested more time into raising their stats.
I played many different MMORPG`s and I never ever found a game where it was nonrelevant how much time you invested to reach your goal. But I saw one thing always happening. At one point mostly after a couple of years something changed in the game mechanics and there was no doubt that those who where disfavored by the changed left the game. It always ended badly as I can say today fort he whole game because there where so many other options out there where they leaving people found what they had before.
I would choose a rough fresh start as I mentioned above even if I would not be happy with it at all. The other option is none for me because with the current system I lost completely my motivation.
Now 2 more Suggestions.
Create two separate sections in the upper line oft he MD screen right next to Announcement.
Make them red cloror if unread same as Announcement.
One for „Upcoming important Decisions“.
People would see more easily if anything big is planned to change in the near feature. I have to admit that I don´t have that much time to read the forum everyday or even in some weeks, I guess I´m not the only one.
One for „Patches“ (weekly/monthly as it fits).
This would give every single one a very transparent and structured overview what changed in the past and might be in the future. People who had a break for some months could easily go through the patch section and make them selfs up to date without spending hours on the forum.
All the best to all of you.
Edit:
Something which came into my mind regarding the shop and the paying non paying players.
Please keep in mind that this is a first thought and nothing finished.
Paying players can continue to pay whatever they want to support MD as a maximum but a minimum of 4 $ each month if they don´t wish to vote to have access to MD.
All those who are not able or willing to pay real money can use the vote system to gain the needed minimum of 4$ per month. By voting you can achieve a maximum of 5,4 $ per month & with this there is enough room for those days in which you are not able to vote.
This idea is somehow a little force on each player to do something for MD to have access to the game, it still would be free. Every player could have an MD account on which the amount of $ would be counted. Lets say you vote 2 months each day. In this case you would have a plus of 2,8$ on the account for the 3rd month and so on. Real $ payed would count on this account too.