I'm going to be straight I saw this coming from a mile away years ago.
Do I regret buying Ultimate? No, do I give a rats ass? No. It's a "DONATION!" It's something you do in good nature. That being said, I do have an idea. While late to the punch.
Why not allow people who have the perks already from their ranks to keep them, and just allow people to "buy them" i.e. The donations give them to you for free, while the rest buy them. That way everybody goes home happy. i.e. You bought /fly. Now you can /fly for free. When the people below said rank need to spend meebles. Like a discount card.