Well, they normally phase out 4 sets a season, but they didn't phase out any sets between 2009 and 2010, so the community thinks, as do many professors, that they will phase out everything before Platinum. Other theories include them wiping the slate clean and just starting over from HG/SS (there's very, very little chance of this), everything before Legends Awakened (not too likely), or everything before Stormfront (also not too likely).
SP doesn't work like that. SP Pokemon work like Basics, not like Lv. X's. That's Pokemon Prime you're thinking of that works like that (Prime is like a BAMF version of the Pokemon, where the basic or Stage 1 can evolve into the normal evolution or the Prime evolution).
Two words: Roast Reveal. ;D /brick'd
Huh? Not good enough for ya? Try that one Noctowl's Power. /double-brick'd
I also recommend PokeBeach.com for some TCG stuff (mostly to be on the cutting edge of new cards being announced). PokeGym has been around far longer, though, and is better at the articles and the rulings compendium.
And the new set's due out in May some time.