Let me chime in as a 3-time 1K and say not all of us are up in arms about this. There is a lot of misleading info by 1Ks on FT. Not untruths but scenarios that are very travel-dependent held up as fact.

I flew 150k EQM in 2007 and only earned 4 CR1s. In the new rules I would earn (edited)8. So it doesn't mean that every 1K will get fewer CR1s with the new program! There could have been many 1K's earning less than 8 CR1s a year, I don't think I ever earned all 8 since I rarely fly in fall/winter. Now 125k gives you 6, matching the most I ever earned in the 'good old days'. And it throws 75k flyers a bone which I think is nice.

The old system was very complex in how you earned CR1s. It was checked every quarter and dependent on UA metal, BIS only. You could never earn more than 2 CR1s each quarter. In 2007 I flew ANA internationally for half the year and earned no CR1s for two quarters, even though I was racking up the EQM.

The new system is much simpler, allows you to reach CR1 thresholds on partner airlines or with CC bonus EQM, and rewards those who travel more. I can't argue with that.

The 120 segments IS a devaluation plain and simple, but it doesn't affect me. If it did, I would fight for it, or likely go to AA.

RE: E+; Leaving UA if E+ goes would not 'fix' the loss of E+, but other programs have benefits or services that are superior to UA (like call centers, routing, or even pricing), you might give them a try if E+ was your main 'retainer.'