Why can't there be an a-la-carte option to pick and choose what we want out of our membership and give us a reasonable price. If we don't want the free home, or land tier, or the free Belli store, the free gifts, the stipend, etc. We can pick and choose if we want the free uploads, the high group allotment, etc. Just a suggestion.

Feel that this is the best place to communicate my feelings on the matter, seeing as the messages are (hopefully still) being forwarded. Long post!

I personally looked at the land decrease, vs the membership increase. I seriously debated dropping my premium membership in exchange for some land - but the pay gap is significant enough that I also seriously considered dropping both and simply renting, since I'm a merchant.

I don't need additional groups in either sense - discords exist. I don't need an extra animesh slot. I don't need to host events - and there's better ways to get the word out for smaller events than SL's current event posting. I didn't even know premium gifts existed until I got notified of these changes. And I have a feeling, as voiced by others - the benefits mentioned might not be worth it for regular users, either.

I'd seriously consider making membership options for different demographics of users, as opposed to the current model. Splitting and allowing different benefits to be added to a membership should also be considered. I anticipate users would br be much happier to sign up for benefits specific to their needs.

"Do a study on the demographic make up of SL and you may find many of us are older, retired and on a fixed income."

The above rings true to me. And yet marketing tries to attract fickle 20 somethings - who mainly leave for RL moves, travel, careers, dating 3d people .

Why not market to 40 50 60 + people who are more likely to stay , enjoy renting/hanging out in a community -making SL stronger .

Attracting more mature clients may not be "sexy" on a Linden's resume but the main market, the US, is graying. Get ahead of the curve. The 80s are gone baby.

"The Shift: By 2030, all Baby Boomers will be over the age of 65, meaning roughly one in every five Americans will be of retirement age."

Perhaps there could be some sort of 'grandfathering'? New members will pay the new price, but some sort of discount for those of us that have been in for like 15 years?

It would be one thing, slightly more palatable, if the pricing increases were across the board at all levels fairly. It is something else for certain groups to see a price increase, others to see no changes, and others to be getting discounts. Alienating the people who spend the most is not the way forward if a business wants to stay active.

Without doubt most companies have to raise their prices to pay employees and cover expenses. My own employer doesn’t keep up with cost of living in spite of their profits. Our service an absolute necessity. What is provided to us through SL is not necessity. It Is entertainment for most of us. Some earn a living, perhaps but all, if not most, for non-necessary products/services, right? I can hardly afford medication, medical services, my home, food. I will no longer push my budget for non-essentials. The decrease land cost doesn’t help. Increased membership fees and linden purchase fees only hinder the ability to pursue my chosen form of paid past time.

Once my membership renewal is due that will be the end for premium for me. Any spending for lindens is extremely minimal until then. If any. I feel I’ve invested so much over the years when times were good for me but now I’m down on my luck and getting hit hard from every side of life. Something’s got to give. Putting more into lindens, and virtual only assets, is going to have to be where the line is drawn this time.

The little guys are hurting. Those who can, still will spend for pleasure. It’s amazing SL has lasted this long. I wish it wisdom to see its way through the mess that the world is right now. Stepping on the little guys is a risk but obviously one they are banking on.

You’ll be missed. But the friends and fun and learning I’ve had over the years even more so.

I feel this will be the end of SL. The cost of living has exploded. Do a study on the demographic make up of SL and you may find many of us are older, retired and on a fixed income. Elevated charges will at least mean many will not have the spare cash to spend on in world product, which means SL will miss out fees for $ - L$ exchanges and vendors will miss out on business. Eventually people will down size or give up on their land completely.

Don't allow accountants to run Linden Labs.

I agree that increasing fees for large numbers of regular users/consumers to subsidize a land baron's rate decrease looks really bad. If enough regular users give up and leave, who's left to rent your land or buy your stuff? LL can only rely on the SL addiction for so long. Eventually, people just can't afford the memberships and leave to find better returns for their entertainment budgets.

For me my P+ increase has been more than compensated by the large reduction in my private 30k region tier (down $360/year)