-It is smaller than 1,000 bytes.
-All outputs are 0.01 BTC or larger.
-Its priority is large enough (priority = sum(input_value_in_base_units * input_age)/size_in_bytes)
as blocks began filling up, miners removed the node policy because they wanted to collect fees instead.
Thanks! I actually do recall now in 2016, even blockchain.info explorer, you'd be looking at "high priority" and low even, but I seem to remember that these were either categorised by the age of the coins (or coin days was it now?) so that seems to fit that input age condition.
I hadn't realised at the time that size of input and value of output were also part of the conditions. I do remember being able to send 0-fee txs. Entered late, but early enough to see that era end!