I don't see myself playing EU on any kind of regular basis in 3 years.
I would like to win the "EU lottery" like anyone else, but my primary reason to play is to have fun. I have been playing for a little over a year and a half, and have deposited an average of about $40USD per week during this time. My current ped card balance is 0.00
Since i'm not an "investor"or an ATH looter, but rather a consumer in this game, I have to start looking at it in a bit more realistic fashion. The reality of it is that I'm finding I can have just as much fun in other online games that have fixed gaming fees of $0 - 20/month as opposed to my current $160/month investment in EU. It's too bad because I love EU and find it fascinating to play...but unaffordable, unless I resort to hours and hours of things like sweating or reselling, which for me takes too much time and entertainment away from the game.
In the long run, I think this structure is going to hurt MindArk and the investing players. You can only go for so long depending on the "curious customer" that visits, spends a little and the leaves never to return. Even casinos realize that while new gamblers come of age every day...they have to get long term repeat customers to make their industry thrive.