"I look for the ammendments that were passed to cause another dues increase and another round of grandfathered discounts. A never ending cycle."

Paul, thats how life membership works in most clubs.
Maybe sad to say, but not all life members will live to see their 10/15 years worth of magazines and thats where the financial side evens out.
Similarly, many who take life membership may not have otherwise remained members long enough to pay that equivalent amount in dues anyway.