LL has to share the blame for this. They actively pitched Openspaces as a way for Estates to make money:
Code:
[9:23] ****** Linden: some folks are doing something interesting with OpenSpaces
[9:23] ****** Linden: you know what those are?
[9:23] You: no, i dont
[9:24] ****** Linden: ok -- you have to own at least one regular island (which you do) in order to have openspaces
[9:24] ****** Linden: they come in sets of 4
[9:24] You: are you talking, the low prim, basicly ocean sets?
[9:24] ****** Linden: size-wise, each one of them.... yes, that's what I'm talking about exactly
[9:24] ****** Linden: setup & monthly *for the set* is the same as one regular region
[9:24] ****** Linden: but here's what I'm seeing some island owners doing
[9:24] ****** Linden: they'll rent out one entire one to one person
[9:25] ****** Linden: for say $100 or $125 a month
[9:25] ****** Linden: yes, it's only 1865ish prims...
[9:25] ****** Linden: but the renter is getting All That Space
[9:25] ****** Linden: and you're making $25 - $50 profit on each one
This was back in July 2007. It's not the only time I've seen LL pushing Openspaces as rental property. If they didn't want them used that way, they shouldn't have been promoting them that way.