I personally have no problem with either the debt of the inf badge requirements for either the accolade or the unlocking of the TV contact. I have my own villian group and yes I try to farm prestige for them when I can, but since the TV goes to lvl 50 I personally dont have a problem with it. Being able to get all the accolades or story arcs with easy badges, or cause one takes too long, is having your cake and eating it too.
It's nice the way it was originally set cause you have to choose, are you that intent on the accolades that at you will get debt to work off? Plenty of ways from old PvP zones to old SF's to do it, that auto malefactor you. As for the TV I liked the infamy badge, at least you wont out lvl this contact like i have for the Slot Machine many many times.
And as to making it good for the casual gamer as well as hardcore gamers. A casual gamer can get to lvl 50 just as quick without the extra badges and often quicker cause they dont spend hours working on them.