In addition to what has been said already this is definately Emirates way of reducing the numbers within it's FF program.

I firmly believe that this is EK's way of not bringing in a platinum tier. With the changes they have made the numbers of gold & silver members will drastically reduce and like already said maybe enhance the gold experience.

For me this is essentially the same as BA & KLM / France have done to their programs already. The only difference with EK is they still offer a premium product where as the others product has also deteriated.