I tried to purchase some scenes using paypal balance but during checkout, it doesn't seem to be an option, just linked credit/debit. Is that just how it is?

Hi. It depends firstly on your PayPal default purchase settings allowing for this; secondly you can only use your balance if it is the same currency as the vendor. This is because PayPal can't make the currency exchange deal on your cash balance in real time (credit/debit card purchases take time to process the final exchange rate and commission after the deal is done provisionally)

So, this will only work if you have a US dollar cash balance as this is Epoch's native currency.
I have a store here paid in dollars and I usually keep some back in PayPal to make download purchases. This also avoids losing on the exchange rate.

Clear as mud? Lol