While I definitely agree that Alaska is crystal clear in regards to its policy, I do think that it might be interesting to discuss the OP's suggestion that extending the expiration date to February might create an incentive for someone to bring business back to Alaska in the new year. On the other hand, it seems clear from the OP's posting that he had no intention of actually returning to Alaska this year (having moved his business to WN), just that the lack of status for the next two months gives him no incentive to pick AS.

Has anybody here lost status and been tempted to make a jump in the new year?