Yes, but what a lot of posters are not factoring into the discussion is the future price of the membeships.

I estimate that the price of memberships has gone up at least 40% in the last five years. If you constantly plan to buy 1 or 3 year membeships for the next 30(?) years, what do you think you will be paying near the end of the period?
IMO, if you have the discretionary income and can stand to lose the money, any reasonably feel you will be flying a lot for a long time, gamble and buy the pass. How much in total would the guy who bought the pass at $585 in 1985 have paid if he bought one year passes for the last 20 years????