Quote:"Platinum and Gold Members will not lose any of their existing features".
I'm sorry, but it is not correct. At least some of said members, especially platinum ones, paid for their ability to share/access full range of forum information on the first place (with natural exception of private staff forum).
If any new discussions/informational forum would not be available to them... So the value of platinum membership is not the same now.
No doubts that this idea will work. Some members will continue to pay for access and ability to share full range of information. Some members enjoy any new icons and will pay for those icons with their name. Some members will pay just because they see others who paid. Some members will start pay more attention to dnstate forums instead.
If the forum needs more money, it might be good idea to create up to dozen of membership levels. Money will come by the same reasons