/Nod I'd say most if not all other companies suggest that after a certain amount of time your chars may be deleted. But even in that they usually dont, for instance i'll go 6mnths or more before re-subscribing to EQ and my chars will still be there..and even longer for AC.

On the other hand rebuying the whole game again is a whole new ballgame heh. Beleive it or not folks its true check your handbooks ;/ Never had a company threaten that before=-o. Hopefully they'l be flexible though <shrug