Pythagoras: I agree that in the end it does hurt Brain King, but Fencer's point about the short term help is very valid. Almost all companies that sell membership have some form of a discount to increase immediate profits. I personally wouldn't have given a lifetime membership for the equivalent of 5 or 10 years. I would have done it for the equivalent of 25 or 30 years or had something like buy five years, get two more free.