As you might recall, two weeks ago users of Netflix pitched quite a tizzy when the company announced it would be shutting down its "Profiles" feature, which allows multiple users on an account to maintain separate queues and ratings for their rentals. Under the guise of "keeping the service as simple and easy to use as possible," the company said it would be terminating the service as of September 1. Calamity followed. Petitioners petitioned. Conspiracy theories took hold. Blogs were set ablaze with the fire of DVD rental righteousness. Today, the company announced that the plans to keep, yes, keep, the feature. You did it, people!

Netflix product manager Todd took to his blog to expand on an e-mailannouncement that the feature was here to stay. Portions of that white-flag opus are after the jump:

For users of Profiles, I have good news to report: we will keep the feature with no plans to discontinue it.

We were persuaded by the well-reasoned, sincere responses of loyal members who very much value this feature....

Because of an ongoing desire to make our website easier to use, we believed taking a feature away that is only used by a very small minority would help us improve the site for everyone. Listening to our members, we realized that users of this feature often describe it as an essential part of their Netflix experience. Simplicity is only one virtue and it can certainly be outweighed by utility.

As for improving Profiles, there are no definite plans in place yet, but, like everything at Netflix, we seek to make it better and we are open to suggestions....

We apologize for any inconvenience the previous announcement caused.

Enjoy.

-Todd