Yeah PPlat is overrated. I was 10th on the upgrade list on a BOS-EWR last week. Free PPlus card membership is gone. The direct line is nice in theory, but the last two times I've called I hung up after waiting on hold for 10 minutes (maybe they underestimated how many people could spend $30k now that fares have gone up so much).
In short, wasn't worth gunning for $30k of spend this year by staying exclusively continental on Int'l BF routes. Next year getting 100k plat will be enough.
Unfortunately I'm stuck w/ CO since I live in NJ, so can't easily shoot for EXP on AA as many advocate.