No, I apoligize if it appears that my comment about the $4.95 sale is misleading, indeed not my intention. You are correct that the specials are available for all the audible plans. For a heavy audible book user, the gold and platium plans are great, but I am an occasional listener so the "light" plan they offered when I quit the monthly plan was ideal. Audible intentionally does not offer that plan as an initial sign up option but offers it when members "quit". Keep me as a member!
As for being "marginal" offerings, I beg to differ. The ten I picked up today were from light mystery novels to historical books (Ghandi and Churchill) and books made into movies (The Time Traveler's Wife) so I am very pleased with my purchases.
Audible is a great value no matter what plan you use and since they are now tied to your Amazon account, very easy to purchase. Frankly Amazon gets a lot of my online purchases now. They have proven to be a very reliable online vendor.