The benefits of stipends being phased out.

Due to a rl injury I'v been out of work and unfortunately my premium renewal is coming up the 28th. But food comes before a game. Don't think I'd upgrade back to premium though, as with the reduced stipend, it isn't worth the money they want. Perhaps in the future, but time will tell. I'm currently selling off land.

Oh yeah, don't expect any USD to go from my bank account to your sl account because I'm going basic. I refuse to buy lindens from other players.

It all comes down to money for LL and a false economy in SL. They may or may not get rid of the stipend for existing premium acctt holders but I almost am assured they they will eventually raise the monthly premium.
SL forces everyone to own a buisiness (if they want to make linden) in an "Economy" that really only supports 25% of buisiness owners. Now everyone said that stipend ruins the value of the Linden but the linden was increasing in value. When stipends go away it only makes linden more rare and become more valuable. I expect the linden to go below 200 linden to the dollar to buy it as the influx of new linden in the market decreases. Eventually the linden that LL get through fees will surpass that amount that it produces.
Since alot of members need that linden (to supplement the lack of jobs in SL) getting rid of it simply will make them not become premium members.

No it will still costs the same to be a "premium" member and you will be out the Lindens you use to get for "free" and have to pay extra money to buy them on the market

My money is on getting rid of premium completely, and letting basics buy land.

Right now there is not much reason to spend money, as ther eis very limited quality entertainment.

Matt, Ranma,

Yes, in the short term the effective cost of premium is higher weighed against the benefits. They have said that they will either reduce premium cost, make premium free (i.e. get rid of it, and all stipends), or offer some kind of premium content only to premiums (I doubt that will ever fly).

They'll have to do something though. My money is on getting rid of premium completely, and letting basics buy land.

What are you smoking?

This is a big misunderstanding. Nothing has happened to benefit the fat cats here. If you have noticed, those wanting to make money are upset too, because Linden Labs is now going to try to make money directly in the Lindex market where money makers get paid. They have not favored the money makers in this deal. They have simply made premium accounts less worth while. Normal players shouldn't feel much effect in the long run if they can figure out that the stipend was never free money to begin with. You still get your stipend if you bought it when the rate was L$500/week. If you get the stipend when the rate is L$400/week, then you need stop and think about why you want a stipend in the first place. Is there any good reason to have the stipend over the immediate money you can have elsewhere when the stipend has become more expensive. Linden Labs has made it clear with this move that their plan to make money does not involve giving people incentive to have premium accounts. That might change with a cheaper premium account, or benefits to the premium account later, but for now, just give up your premium and enjoy the relatively equal costs that you have by playing the game as a basic member.