I'm a Gold and I find myself not really that surprised or bothered by this enhancement.

I've used it a handful of times over the years, mainly when flying UA, certainly at JFK (once) and I think once earlier this year flying AA out of IAD.

It was a nice perk. But it's not the be all and end all.

The GCHs that are going to be hardest hit are those that fly frequently from regional UK airports with lounges that have limited LHR service on BA and nothing else. So, you know, everywhere BA flies in the UK that isn't LHR.