Once I set up a suscription does the member get a renewal notice when the ending subscription is up?
Yes
If the subscription is to a members only area. What stops a person from giving there username and password to someone else to access the area?
Nothing. Case-in-point, if you wanted to give someone else you PayPay user ID and Password, who would stop you?
Do I need a ssl certificate on my web server to have the customers access the secure area or is that done on paypals end?
No, not if your are using PayPal's Website Payments Standard. Yes, if opt to use PayPal's Website Payments Pro.
Can I set the subscription up and test it before i actually use it live?
Yes, PayPal has a virtual world for Developers called the Sandbox. You can learn more about the Sandbox here.
Suggest checking out the following documentation which can be found here. Both of these guides will answer many of your questions.
Merchant Setup and Administration Guide
Website Payments Standard Integration Guide
Regards,
skier
