Sort:  

Everyone will be able to take advantage of the referral program. You will be sharing 1% with the person who invited you but you will also be able to refer many users which would make up for the percentage loss. A lifetime program encourages long term marketing.

I agree with @ender, we should not go into lifetime earnings from others, that is just building Steemit out on terms of finance than anything else. See my other comments to this post regarding my opinion to fees for referrals.