Thanks for posting the list...I'd forgotten about some of the benefits.
One thing that I'd like to see YX / F9 add is the ability to purchase credits toward MME status. Say you only flew 22 segments -- you could essentially "buy" three more segments for a fee...perhaps $50 each...for MME status. If you do something like this....
(a) Maybe it's only for renewals? Or not??
(b) If someone starts with 0 credits and "buys" all 25 to get or keep MME status @ $50, that's $1,250. Is that too much? Too little?
(c) Maybe there's a limit to the number you can purchase, so that just anyone can't buy MME for $1,250 (or whatever 25 credits would cost)?
You don't want to overly dilute the benefits afforded to the best customers by just giving MME away. But the benefits / loyalty thing is something of a two way street. You want to reward and encourage loyalty, of course. But a program like this allows people to pay to join the group, which will encourage future and ongoing loyalty.
Doing mileage runs to obtain or maintain status is hardly unheard of. But mileage runs take time and effort on the part of the traveler, and for the airline they fill seats which might otherwise go to "real" customers. Although mileage runs are fun (for some people...perhaps not all) given customers the option of just paying for credit seems like a win-win.