There is a difference to being a burden from a strictly monetary perspective from that of being a burden on a personal level. *L*

I took the original comments to be based entirely on the economics of life memberships - as this post indicates.

The value and contributions of the LM's is completely separate, IMHO. Although an argument can certainly be made that newbies should pay for the longer-term (possible) shortfall out of respect and gratitude for "those that went before" into the LM. I think that is a separate argument from the economic one.

I hardly think that if I, now that I have become a club member, decide to sit on the sidelines and do absolutely nothing but read my magazine and post on this board, that when my 3 years is up and I opted to become a LM, that anyone would tell me that I would then be a "key to this organization".

Again, I don't know anyone in this club to cast dispersions at any Life Member or Newbie...but I can follow the logic of the economics of the issue (and have been there in other clubs with Life Memberships).