I am hated on the marriott board sometimes on these types of threads because I, too, am a big proponent of BIS status as well as BIB (butt-in-bed) to earn your status. Philosophically, I think it is just awful that some loyalty programs do this...You don't buy grades in school, you get what you work for/earn....same thing should apply to loyalty programs.....you fly the miles, you get the status.....you stay in hotels to get the status.....
Yes, I got matched this year on another airline but im not gonna make it and im not gonna ask anyone at that airline to allow me to "buy-up" to keep my status.

Personally, iztok, it is not worth your money to buy up to CP. Spend some time with your family this holiday season rather than trying to earn kudos from USAirways for being a CP because it won't happen. Remember, they hate the CP group and Dougie even implied it awhile back with his "fees" comment.