Maybe there ought to be a prominent reminder in all the fora that the cheap subscription expires at midnight on 4/21 (or whatever it is.)
Some people always wait to the last minute, but if they forget and wait too long, maybe some who planned to sub at the $5 rate will then refuse to and go away. 
And while we’re at it, I’ll just add a link to my idea for subscriptions after the end of the charter membership period that must have been so shocking in its brilliance that no one responded to it.
My $4.95 PayPal payment doesn’t clear 'till the twentieth. Am I guaranteed a spot on the SDMB? Being a Guest is a drag, and being gone would be worse.
Erm… perhaps you’re a little confused, Derleth. On the 21st, the current “Guest” accounts won’t get deleted. Hell, even banned posters aren’t deleted! You simply won’t be able to post unless and until you pay the subscription fee. You could come back 3 years from now and pay and your inactive Guest account would become a member account with full posting rights.
So to answer your question: by registering at any point, you have already guaranteed your spot on the SDMB. You can turn on paid access at any time.
Not midnight. 12 noon Central Daylight Time Wednesday April 21.
Derleth, you’re in, nothing to worry about.
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
Just to say I agreed wholeheartedly with your idea, Billdo … but I read it soon after you posted … if I’d realised it had no replies I would have responded.