I have to confess that I've not enjoyed these recent timed quest lines involving the battle arena. i never do the battles, timed or otherwise, because I find the battles an exercise in futile frustration (unless I cough up the gold on a regular basis). (Yes, I do research to find the best pairings but I still lose often.)
(My husband had pretty much stopped playing because of the quests being timed, but the forced battles sealed it for him. He no longer plays.)
I understand TL wanting to make money. I just don't want to spend my gold in this manner.
I'm still here. But my enthusiasm for the game is fading.