I think for the average player that doesn't want to spend coin or trade, you get the option of a single item in the shop, and that's basically it for no real work involved. For those that want to get the higher end stuff or multiple items, they have to do everything they can to get more pumpkins.
This works out well, as some people such as myself prefer to sell the pumpkins for coins, so i can use the coin for things i want, and other players that want more pumpkins than normal can buy them from people like me. It suits everyone in this fashion.
If events were meant to be very easy and you got everything you wanted, it would be akin to cheating, or be similar to a childs game where u can just get everything without any real work or spend. So far I have been stoked to get 1200 pumpkins from just the normal stuff and I have a few weeks to go. The coins I have gotten is going to allow me to buy 16 nobles to replace those I am using that have licenses (but I seem to change my mind on what to spend my coin on daily...lol).
This is my first event, and so far i like it!