That's the root of the whole thread, really. No one gives a shit if you shovel money into some weird expense. Humans can't be 100% efficient all the time, we aren't robots, everyone needs some kind of vice in their life.
The reason people make fun of Phil for his gacha addiction is both because he absolutely refuses to admit it and pretends to be poor while doing so. This whole thing gives us insight as to where the fuck all the money he guilt trips out of people goes, and that's what matters. And so watching the fiend suffer from withdrawal and claiming he needs tips "now more than ever" is all the more horrifying/entertaining.