I can't remember GM saying anywhere that they are changing to lifetime, though I wouldn't hold a grudge if they did

But... which other GM thread did you see that?
Here apparently.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=768281.msg8747062#msg8747062Although GM didn't actually say that they were, just that another forum member that said they had.
I think Genesis- mining need to concern this matter. It would be really helpful for old members like us.
After reading it again, I think what Marco said in his post was that anyone who had a contract already before the changes will have their contract changed to the lifetime contract when their current contract ends, mine for example will end May 2015 so it will then be changed to the lifetime contract.
So I think those with those contracts will not have to pay any daily fees until it is changed to the new one as our contracts are set up so that fees are included in the price.
All contracts bought after the changes will have daily fees.
I think that is what will happen.
The daily fees now are not too bad, it is the same as the competitors and also the prices and the length of the contracts now are in line with the competition, for buying larger orders, cheaper than the competition but as well all know GM can offer you other things that the competitors do not, like allowing you to mine different types of coins and having them sent to your wallet each day for example. Most of the competition will only do BTC or LTC, but not both, from what I have seen.
Ian