Interesting perspective, I guess I read it as just the opposite... The terms say pretty explicitly that status is achieved at 30 and 60 segments (not at the conclusion of systematic updates subsequent to that threshold).

https://www.delta.com/skymiles/about...ions/index.jsp

They further state they award bonus miles to flights flown with status.

I certainly understand that things can't be instant... (well, in theory they could, but not practically) and would have expected this to be an adjustment that was built in... The number of miles here is not large at all, but this could mean a lot to someone flying far...

For me it has turned into a principle debate.