No, I got one too, I am not exclusive.

btw congrats

The "why" is my signature and I can't figure out how to remove it.


Why?

EL stands for "Extended License" not "Exclusive License," so it is available on all files. I've gotten them and I am not an exclusive with iStock. It has to do with how many copies of an image you can produce, or how it can be used, but has nothing to do with exclusivity. An EL can be licensed to many people; for exclusive use you'd expect a much, much higher price. Hope that helps you understand the difference.

Odd I had one this week too 

strange, I got 6 this month and 5 subscriptions, I'm not exclusive

something is changing

strange, I got 6 this month and 5 subscriptions, I'm not exclusive

something is changing

Six ELs? Wow - Congratulations! I haven't had one since last Sept, other than a legal guarantee EL (nets us nothing) on a pic of sheep, which are almost certainly long dead. Previously, I had a legal guarantee EL on a photo of a flower and another on a photo of an unidentifiable piece of countryside, viz photos which are about the least legally-risky possible.

As WordPlanet says, ELs have nothing to do with exclusivity. Back in the day, there was a 10% extra 'perk' on ELs for exclusives, but that perk has long gone.

Also, we don't always get a 'much, much' higher price for ELs. I had one last year for $12 (75 credits). Checked with CR who told me that buyer had bought an unusually high number of credits, so had an unusually high discount.

(BTW, subs are currently being reported from the 19th so you might get more than five.)