1 AP armatars are only available for a limited time only, usually within a reasonable time around the event for which they are specified. After that, they are unavailable, but you can still have one as your active armatar if you don't change it.
Since those who didn't change from the Halloween ones still have those in the forum... I'd say it'll take a while before the selected spring ones disappear, even though others can't pick them.
Aside from that, the original purpose of this thread is no longer an issue.