If you read it carefully, they are applying the 500 mile minimum to elites retroactively so it's like it never went away!
"And, this policy change will be applied retroactively to United flights flown between July 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008. By the end of this year, we will update the flights flown as an elite member during that time. The update will apply the 500-mile minimum (for redeemable miles and Elite Qualifying Miles) and will adjust any class-of-service bonuses, elite bonuses and promotional bonuses."