Sour grapes is right! I'm not sure there are too many people on these boards (if any) who will travel 8 hours out of their way for $200 or 10,000 miles. But leaving out of IAD for double miles as opposed to DCA (about 1/2 hour extra for me) is well worth it. And I certainly wouldn't spend thousands of dollars to make an elite level, but if it takes a weekend trip on a E-fare of $79, again, it's worth it. Ditto for applying for credit cards I really don't need but that come with huge bonus mile offers.

My time is worth something (a lot actually), but so is free travel. It continues to amaze me that there are a number of people (perhaps Mr. Brodie included) who say they can't be bothered with collecting and tracking miles/points and then whine profusely when others are taking free trips. Too bad I say, it's your loss!