Other unique benefits are the ability to check in at the 1st Class line at international airports regardless of booking class and access to arrivals lounges. The former may be less valuable now that OLCI works for most international flights (at least I think that is the case based on my reading, here).

I probably fly 50% more UA international than I would without the GS carrot. If I lose it next year, it is not something that I fret over and may be liberating.