I've been playing CoH off and on for a handful of years. I am competent, but not exceptional. I've had a 50, another near 50 and a few 30s in my time. All good. But then, here on the forums a few days ago (first post, btw; long time lurker) and again in a chat between two team mates in game, I heard people talking about using influence to power level some of their toons.
So, for all I knew, influence was this transitory thing people used to buy enhancements to upgrade their character. I'm a bit lost as to how one uses influence to do it. It doesn't seem to, I dunno, seem like an adequate form of payment if it involves giving it to someone to let them doorsit. Am I missing something here?
Regarding INF being inadequate as payment, I'm not really sure what else would be used. Recipes or enhancements run the risk of being unusable to the recipient, and thus being sold for INF anyway. Real money is fraught with potential fraud issues.