Taking away the froob program is an awful idea. When I first started playing AO I was 12 or 13 and had to be a froob pretty much. AO is a massive game and retro-AO which is what froob AO is essentially, was enough to wrap my head around. Then you see a subway or temple twink run about destroying everything with ease and you notice how much the expansions helped. And it's fair because if you're not paying then you shouldn't get those benefits. But it totally makes you want to upgrade if you're enjoying the game. I don't understand what someone meant by saying it creates a divide? No froob program means no free players at all so that's just pointless.
What they should do is upgrade froob content a little with some weapons so they aren't so vastly outclassed by paid members, more to make the game easier for froob newbs.
And instead of making any current expansion free they should just lower the intense price a subscription currently is. That way many more people would be willing to pay (in-game i meet free players that used to be paid but just don't think it's worth the money anymore).
Also I have an official anarchy online guide book published in 2001 and yes, you should be jealous