However, as mentioned previously, it is not the same feature, notwithstanding the fact that its functionality is similar to that of the old feature.
Certainly not the same codebase but it seems similar enough to the old functionality that it is a 1:1 swap from my perspective as a user/subscriber.
If they were, indeed, intentionally "taken away", then it would have been different, but that is not the case.
If I've paid for a product that has feature X and feature X is no longer available do I care why? No. I just know that I paid for one thing and now it is no longer there. The RTW fares is another good example of this. It was added to the product in the equivalent of what is now the Sabre:TVN method previously, available to Gold subscribers. Now it will only be available at the Diamond level.
Furthermore, by the same token, no new features should ever be introduced for existing members (e.g. at the Platinum level)?
The flip side is that you've already done the development for 99% of the product so why do we pay to renew the license every 3/6/12 months?
I appreciate that there is some consideration being given to the situation and I appreciate the development work that has gone into the tool. But this particular issue can be read both way pretty easily, depending on which side of the financial transaction one is on. You seem to be keeping most of the same basic features available as long as folks keep paying, but for new things the cost to play has gone up significantly, depending on which particular bit one is interested in.