I wouldn't have expected anything else from you Dave
Ideas like this are protyped and tested first and then scaled to an optimum level. Your fears therefore are misplaced.
I guess this illustrates the difference between an engineer and marketeer?
I think it illustrates the difference between someone wanting a scheme designed around their own wants to someone looking at it
I think that Ambassador does what it aims at and Royal Ambassador rewards those who stay a lot ; I do not see any reason to create a RA status for those that can't earn it. If wanting a higher category, then as an Ambassador member book accordingly since 1 category is guaranteed. If IHG finds a big issue with sales of certs, rather than such a scheme, perhaps just scrap the referral cert scheme
To me, the optimum level is the status quo