You don't even have to resort to buying 10 plat for $2. You can do two or three app downloads for free and get the same 10 plat.

Though I don't condone gambling, after a handful of app downloads, you can try your luck at opening a crate. In the unlikely chance that you get lucky and loot an arcane (egg, armor, etc.), then, BAM, instant 1mil+, all for free :-)

Now, to get back to the OP, I've seemed to hit a streak of bad luck, running elite maps have been relatively fruitless, but the cost of pots is easily offset by running a couple of daily quests, so I guess I'm still break-even - which is not bad, given the terrible luck I've been having.