the subscription fees is about the same as with other subscription-based MMO. i think at one time Everquest was charging US$49.99 when it first started out but that was such a long time ago.

if you don't pay, you just don't have access to your account anymore. however when you restart your subscription, your account would be active again, provided it's not been hacked by then.

karwaidotnet is right when he says some brand new servers are lagging unusually. seems to affect a small group of ppl though because everyone else says they're alrite.