[Threshold]

<Snip snip: Please refrain from personal attacks against other members - Xerihae>

But I have read tons of examples in this thread alone of situations where the 4 choice options failed miserably to address a situation accurately.

Merchandise, subscriptions, pay-for-perks, etc. are functionally the same. They all create a business relationship between player and admin. That is the most critical difference between a truly free mud and a non-free mud.

It is also incredibly naive to claim there is no effect on the way people are treated once they have sent money into a game (for whatever reason). That's just completely bogus. I think we would be doing players a grave disservice by making them think there WAS a difference, when there just isn't.

Furthermore, there is absolutely NOTHING clear or accurate about the hopelessly vague "rewarded in game" concept.