I agree with this.

I know it's not necessairily more than anybody else, but I've pumped well over $1000 dollars into Turbine in the several years I've been playing their game, in the form of lifetime memberships for LotRO, as well as several thousand turbine points for both LotRO and DDO. I currently have a premium subscription here. Does that really make me any less of a player? Does that make me any less of a supporter of Turbine? No.

I think it's the term "VIP" that's misleading. Instead of considering it an alternate program or an alternate method of paying, the VIPs think that they get to put on their Scarlett O'Hara, Lords of the Manor, 'let's squash the proles' attitude and raise outrage over a perceived nerf to their benefits, or a perceived lack of benefits.

Why should you be be special? Anyone's who's not F2P is supporting Turbine. Their label of P2P/VIP doesn't exactly indicate who's spent more or who's the better/more loyal customer.

$0.02