Well I don't check the playthrough counter after every spin...that's just silly and not required anyway.
Just keeping a mental note of how many spins etc are required, or a written tally, and checking every xx spins and more frequently as you get closer. So simple, and would have saved this guy half his money.
I also believe the minimum wagering "bonus abuse" thing is more about deposit bonuses rather than freebies, as they generally don't have max cashouts and further wagering is an option for the player and increases the house's chances.
Nevertheless, it still requires a more clinical approach to play than mere "entertainment".
True, the OP could have frequently checked the meter and worked out which spin would be the one that exactly completed WR, however this is a clinical approach to meeting WR, and NOT "playing for entertainment".
It is bullshit to suggest that casinos can have different views of what constitues "recreational play" based purely on whether the definition of "recreational" favours the casino or the player in an individual instance.
Players usually find out about this back end setting the first time it hits them, as nothing in the terms goes into this level of detail as to how it works, rather it just says "max cashout is ??xbonus", and players expect this to be enforced upon their withdrawal, not at some arbitrary moment during play.
This whole thing is steering players into taking a more clinical approach to bonus play, rather than what casinos want, play for entertainment. If they are steered into "meter watching" for free chips, they will carry this habit to ALL types of bonus play, and it won't just be "advantage players" that cash out as soon as WR is completed, it will be MANY players doing it as they have had a bad experience after NOT doing it.
Don't forget, some RTG casinos have max cashouts on deposit bonuses, so one cannot generalise by saying this "meter watching" only needs to be done on free chips.
I play Microgaming almost exclusively, so I just don't experience having to watch the meter, or worry about max cashouts in the first place, let alone excess winnings disappearing during play. I often play beyond WR because I only check the bonus balance when moving from one game to another, and if I fancy trying another game, I will do so even if I find I have completed WR and have a zero bonus balance. I cash out when I feel luck has deserted me, or my mouse hand is getting stiff through clicking.
The only thing I have to worry about is the max bet restriction on a bonus.