I can finally stop at a shop

A run needed more to do between battles than pick an upgrade and immediately launch again. Gold and shops are now part of that space. Winning encounters earns money, with defeated enemies and a small capped bonus from leftover direct damage contributing to the payout.

Pinball score is still its own thing. A long ball doesn't just print unlimited shopping money. Shops mix items, a relic and board upgrades, and there's one paid reroll if the stock isn't doing much for your build.

That gives the route choice another reason to matter. Do I want supplies, another fight, or an event? Do I buy the useful thing now or spend some gold hoping the reroll gives me something better? Morning shops also wait until later in the stage, so the opening isn't immediately interrupted by shopping before the run has really started.