Your second paragraph may, or may not be true, but as far as I know, "Most people are not of VIP status." Therefore, your paragraph does not apply to them. NOTE: I am one of them, I am not of VIP status. And, I do not have a "Combine Lower Level Runes" button.
An that is my point. Why should players get for free a function that is equivalent to a benefit that players get for being VIP5.
The opinions expressed on this post are my own as a player, not as a Moderator.