Ah. See, I thought that since this was also enabling previous trial accounts that it would be acting like an extended trial. Where, if you decide to stay, you go buy the game, enter your key, then start up your subscription.

At the same time, with an expansion coming up, I'd guess the goal is to get any returning players to purchase *that* box. And, assuming the new expansion follows the same model as the last one, that box will give access to all previous expansions and whatnot anyway.

Of course, when Kunark came out I heard complaints about the inclusion of previous expansions being unfair as well. Can't win. :)