I think both posters are onto something.

I definitely am less loyal to AC in that I don't promote it the way I used to in the heady days of SE with Aeroplan 10 years ago. But I and many others still fly almost religiously on the airline as the benefits still outweigh the drawbacks. Several have jumped ship but not enough to cause AC/Aeroplan to rejig their program to get them back.

Whether AC is teetering on the edge or doing well, only time will tell. Would be sure nice to be able to be a real AC/Aeroplan booster again though. Right now I suffer the indignities of annual benefit loss but appreciate the few great benefits that the SE program still has.