The sale of 'pins' were ceased because it could land the site, and the owner in legal trouble, because of all the 'pins' coming from illegitimate sources.
I believe that you are now allowed to sell any type of membership, (besides credit card), on sythe, and they no go under the name of "Account Upgrades".
Because it is up to each individual user to apply the upgrade, sythe can't be put in any legal troubles.