These observations are necessarily anecdotal because none of us have access to the data, only Jeff Sleestak does. That said, I too notice a marked lack of saver award inventory. And I don't think this is an aberration. COdbaUA is cutting saver award seats to boost profits. I get it.
RNE, but I don't like it. MP saver awards are the sole reason I fly UA, and why I use Chase cards for that matter.
P.S. to Jamie Dimon: I'm not going to carry your cards if you let Sleestak drag MP into the Land of the Lost.