The novice license was only good for one year and was non-renewable.  That meant if you didn't upgrade to Technician or General, you were off the air until you could pass either test.

Prior to the development of two meter FM and repeaters, the only practical use for a Technician license was to operate 6 or 2 meter AM.   These bands were active in metropolitan areas but unless you had a General or better, you missed out on all the DX possibilities of shortwave.   So for most Novices there was the challenge to upgrade to Technician/General or else get out of Amateur Radio.