Owners of b1.7.3 are actually just discriminated with this issue. They should be easily able to decide whether they want to allow only premium account users to their server just like in the newer versions (1.0.0+) without any difficulties. This actually makes less people want to make pre-1.0.0 servers, which inevitably drains out the whole pre-1.0.0 community of potential new servers and probable interest in those versions. Pretty cowardly move from the Mojang side.
RickMondy
Owners of b1.7.3 are actually just discriminated with this issue. They should be easily able to decide whether they want to allow only premium account users to their server just like in the newer versions (1.0.0+) without any difficulties. This actually makes less people want to make pre-1.0.0 servers, which inevitably drains out the whole pre-1.0.0 community of potential new servers and probable interest in those versions. Pretty cowardly move from the Mojang side.