If we refuse to upgrade will we be treated differently when it comes to making transactions with small amounts? Will we even be included in the blockchain?
If all your peers are running with the settings at 0.0001, then this happens as they drop it:
2013-05-06 20:29:16 ERROR: CTxMemPool::accept() : nonstandard transaction type
Your client will keep retrying and eventually it might find a peer that will relay it, and with luck it'll reach a miner that will mine it.
Of course, since 0.8.2 changes it from a hard coded, compiled in setting to a user-setting then who knows? It can be lowered and 0.8.2 gives people the choice. Heck, people can even increase the minimums on their p2p node if they wish.