Based on what? Your own thought on VIP-ness? You're a subscriber which Turbine gave the name VIP to. YOu get loads of free character slots, you get to open elite on every first character, you get 500 TP every month, you get every new release 3 days early and home deliverd.
Opening Elite is still a perk. A premium TR getting Hard unlocked (or elite on 3rd life??) is still way behind an unlock on very first life on all dif.settings.
All opinions aside: VIP's where VIP's before the Elite unlock thing was introduced. They will remain VIP after Premiums (may) get TR unlock. Simpley because when they stop being VIP, they realize how many perks they've got. They have to buy all packs and player slots.
(long story short: it's like with houses, VIP's rent content, Premiums buy. Realy, VIP's are poor mans Premiums :P

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should make clear it is a joke and not flame intended