Big difference between Snapnames and WLS:
On snapnames, the $69 give you the opportunity to use the same money to chase for another name if snap did not manage to grab a particular name for you; whereas the WLS fee is gone if a name won't drop.
As for rich/poor:
As to place a WLS order on a name will be too late when it's expiration has begun,a lot of people(the wealthier ones) will buy a WLS on a name just long time before it's even clear if it will expire or not.I even guess the big players will buy thousands of subscriptions for all the best names there are,and will do so on the very first day WLS opens its doors.That way they can create a monopoly for dropped names themselves,renew WLS subscription every year just for the case it drops and if they wish to,create a WLS subscription auction where you could buy a subscription for a name.Like buying and transferring domains right now but this time it's WLS subscriptions instead.
Just think for yourself:
If you would be a big player,this is what you would do:
Buy subscriptions for the 1000 best names there are,including sex.com,business.com and so on.This will happen on day 1 of WLS.Costs for year one: Not even a fraction of what a single name in this very high category could get you when after it has expired you resell it.And chances are big one name out of thousands is goind to drop one day.
Same for middleclass names.And if a player feels it takes too long for a name to eventually drop one day,he can auction the WLS subscr. for it.
So my prediction is:
- Everything is going to be decided and divided amongst the big players on day 1.
- WLS subscriptions will replace/add to the domain drop services.
- Domain disputes will increase.
Somehow i have a feeling the WLS could become illegal if questioned in front of a federal court.Simply because it means 100 000's of names would be gone literally for forever.
Same could happen with the current droptime situation that allows a registrar to gain control over a name that would have expired just because the current system allows them to keep a name by paying the $6 to the registry themselves.
Bottom line : It should be law that Domains drop when a registrant doesn't renew.Period.No exceptions.
That's why it's also law that you don't own a domain but it's rented so to speak.If you forget to renew - your fault and it becomes available again.
Man,so many things that are legally questionable when it comes to domains.
Not to mention the "bad faith" thing...i could go on forever.