Yes seriously.

Look at your tag line " I'll spend more money with you if you promise not to steal $150 from me when my plans change."

Do you really think that these issues are unrelated? It is now nearly free to book an Award, but costs more to change it. Why do you think they did that? To "steal" or maybe to keep more availability considering the sheer volumes of people trying to get awards and complaining about the lack of avails?

Do you not think the #1 reason for lack of low Awards availability is because people are holding reservations they are not sure they will take? How else do you explain the phenomenon of Low fares opening up here and there when previously not available like the OP was able to find 2 days after his original reservation - it is because someone else held an Award they weren't sure they were going to take, and then canceled or changed it.

To me this is just plain obvious. I'm surprised most others don't get it. But fine, the system allows it, so do it. And the complaints will continue but I suppose that is no skin off my teeth either.