Well... would the extra features be valuable to you? I got my permanent account during the last sale, and it's nice to not have to even think about that sort of thing. If you often wonder why you bother with LJ - it might not be a great buy for you.
Both the other half and I have permanent accounts, and I must say I'm quite happy about that. 10 GB of storage space, plus no ads of any kind, plus every available feature offered as a given, without ever having to renew your paid status.
I'm on the old free account. While I like the idea of supporting LJ, I can't reconcile myself to pay for something they offer me free by their own choice. If I stole or hacked it, that would be different. The paid account just doesn't offer me anything I want, so I don't buy it. That said, if they stated they were going to start charging everyone, or if I really liked the paid membership, going for the one time would certainly be the route I would go.
As I've read in other blogs, buying a perm acct is only worth doing, if you plan on doing a blog six years into the future (six years is the amount of time I think it will be before you'd come out ahead). The Internet is a fickle beast, blogs maybe a faded memory by that time. Do you picture yourself blogging that far into the future, provided of course LJ is around, or hasn't been sold to another company that will not honor such perm accts.
On the other hand, people spend 150.00 on lots of chancey things in life, so what's the big deal about getting a LJ perm account ;)
I have a paid account already. It's due for renewal next month. There have been times I wondered why I am doing what I am doing here, but I check in on LJ every day, I enjoy the networking it brings and I can interact with some really cool folks here. I'm on the fence about it, and this time I can make up my mind in more time.
I'm one of those who has spend far more on frivolous items. LJ for me connects me with people, give me a place to speak my mind, and it's fun. True, I could do this with the free version, but I do want some of the extras. My concern is also if something were to happen during the period of time I'd need to break even. Maybe I'd give this up before then. A buyout of Six Apart, 'nucular' war, etc. It's a gamble.
I've grown accustomed to the perks which are part of a paid LJ. Initially it was given as a gift, since in the couple years prior I was using a free account. I like the extras, and I'd kinda like to pay once to not have to pay any more. It's just a good chunk of money I gotta decide on.
I've been doing the paid thing for a few years now. I feel it's worth it. My only concern is not using (or being able to use) the benefits of the perm account for less than the break even period.
I am still on the fence. I like the benefits of paid/permanent accounts, but I wonder if this will not be replaced with something in the not too distant future, be it by my choice or from some corporate shenanigans.
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Date: 2007-06-21 12:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-21 12:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-21 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-21 12:20 am (UTC)JOhn.
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Date: 2007-06-21 12:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-21 12:45 am (UTC)Well
Date: 2007-06-21 01:06 am (UTC)On the other hand, people spend 150.00 on lots of chancey things in life, so what's the big deal about getting a LJ perm account ;)
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Date: 2007-06-21 04:05 am (UTC)Re: Well
Date: 2007-06-21 04:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-21 04:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-21 04:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-21 04:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-21 04:33 am (UTC)I think I need a bit more convincing. lol
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Date: 2007-06-21 04:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-25 03:28 am (UTC)So, no, I don't think I will big guy!