I’m not sure if I understand the anger over this. (And, yes, the “villain” here is RBC. Not WestJet. It’s RBC’s card, and RBC pays WS for the ability to co-brand and offer WS dollars as a reward.)
This is on par with other basic travel credit cards that offer basic Priority Pass membership, as Robsaw stated. When a credit card (or other program) includes basic PP, it’s the exact same thing — no free visits, but a $27usd entry fee. Not earth-shattering. Pretty common.
If you want a credit card that gives you a few “free” lounge visits, the card will cost you more. (Like TD’s Infinite Privilege Visa. $400 a year.)
Want unlimited lounge access? Prepare to pay. That’d be the Amex Platinum for $700 a year.
I won’t use the lounge feature on the WS Mastercard. But, at the price, I still think this card is well worth it. It’s no free lunch, but I can’t think of any credit card that is.