My understanding is the paper used keeps the image about 7 years.
No, it won't. They may say that, but it's not true.
Know what archivists do when they get given something to archive that's on thermal paper?
The usually tranquil and relaxed archivist goes batshit insane, cursing hell and heaven for about half an hour, trying to summon demons or angels to smite the retarded fuckup who tasked him with this idiocy.
After that fails he calmly walks over to the copier, makes a paper copy, files that and throws the thermal paper original away.
When his workday is over he walks into the nearest bar and drinks himself into a stupor while loudly and slurredly complaining about the mere existence of thermal paper.