Stratics Plus actually stopped accepting new people years prior to 2010 (2005 or 2006, if I remember correctly). In fact, the vendor that was doing the transactions continued to bill subscribers for renewals in 2007, even though that their contract to do so had been canceled. When they ended accepting new customers, all those that had Plus at the time continued to receive many the benefits of Plus up until the Stratics Crash of 2008, as the change in software removed the last vestiges of the program.
I personally don't remember any "lifetime" program, but that could have been before I became a member in 2003. I do remember that that billing company stealing my money in either 2006 or 2007, and that the Stratics admins prior to Petra having to contact the company and threaten them with legal action, to cease and desist collecting "renewal" money for a product that was no longer offered, and pocketing it. I think, but cannot be for certain, that the transaction was reversed - and that was before I became staff in 2008.