I just can't see UA to give play ff-program-wise even with the best competitiors.

Just two examples:
1) UA would loose a lot of business to SQ if UA would give the same bonus when flying SQ (now UA gives only 50% in discounted eco and no status bonus of 25%/100% on SQ flights). On a discounted eco flight that makes now a difference UA-SQ difference of 200% to 50% mileage credit for a UA PremEx.
2) LH honours paid business / first with +100 / +200% class-bonus-STATUS-miles on all StarCarriers - UA class-bonus (+25% / +50%) doesn't count as status at all. But LH doesnt give any status% bonus-miles 'per se' (UA 25%/100%).

I just don't see any harmonizing (marketing-) chances on these big differences between those two programs in the near future.