Doubtful as they would likely only use currently selling resorts. They're not dumb enough to sell a package for 3 years when they could sell it for the entire lenth of the contract.
It would definitely only apply to currently selling resorts. The more I think about it, the more it seems to make sense for Disney - they'd be rolling in cash. They already know that a large percentage of people add-on within the first three years - so I bet they are pretty confident that a SamplEAR would hook most buyers.
25$ per point for 3 years, 160 points = 4,000 cash for Disney
If the trial person decides not to purchase later - Disney just made 4,000 off 3 years of point usage - money that likely would have gone towards a rental without the program.
If the trial person buys in, it's probable that they'll not only buy in, but actually increase their points since the downpayment is already taken care of - allowing Disney to essentially accumulate a large base of "pre-sell" customers three years in advance and step up the building of new resorts (hmmmm Contemporary anyone????)
Obviously Disney has realized that there is a HUGE market for point rentals - lots of people are anxious to try out the value and accomodations of DVC but don't want to (or can't afford to) buy in. And I think it's clear that Disney would like to stop commercial renting, but are bound by the legality and can't be as restrictive as they'd like to be.
If there was a SamplEAR that allowed banking and borrowing, a potential renter would choose between:
1. Paying 10-14$ per point to a stranger, getting one trip worth of points, having no control over the reservation, having no DVC member perks, having no ability to cancel/reschedule.
OR
2. Joining Disney SamplEARS - paying 25$-30$ per point BUT, getting the points for THREE years (allowing either three consecutive vacations, or allowing the "purchase" of 1/3 less points thantehy would need to rent since they could bank and borrow), having full control over the points and reservations, getting all member perks, AND having to option to apply all the money spend on the trial towards full membership in 3 years.
Which would people choose? It just seems like a program that would make Disney a lot of money whether people used the trial for 3 years or bought a full contract. I may very well be wrong, but if I were Disney and had a cute name and offer like SamplEARS, I'd be using it for more than a little internet instant win game.