Nothing was changed recently, but you neglected the possibility that your assumptions are incomplete and/or wrong.
He's right. The Reward Merit Vendor does say now that you have to be a VIP to buy ATO's. However that doesn't change the fact that players can still use merits to buy useful items from the vender and use them, or sell them to other players without ever buying access to Wentworth's/Black Market.
We've been selling stuff to each other for 8 years. Players (Prems included) regularly use the trade feature to sell items for prices over the 2 billion sales price cap on the Consignment House.
We've been selling stuff to each other for 8 years. Players (Prems included) regularly use the trade feature to sell items for prices over the 2 billion sales price cap on the Consignment House.