Thanks everyone..
As my first post says "easy to use + updates = retention". You don't need any of the features listed, if they can use the site, and you update the hell out of it, it can look like thehun and it will retain.
Two ways to look at that Soul Rebel. First, you have to remember they have to subscribe to it, for the purpose of getting the reminder emails. Members that will cancel, already did or won?t forget. The guys on this list want to be reminded about updates, they will come back more, stay longer, and enjoy the site more.
It works out, you will have people get reminded and cancel, however you may retain the people the like and use the feature longer. It can also stop people from forgetting about the membership, letting it auto rebill, getting pissed and canceling to never returning to the site, so another lost sale.