I am completely happy with my Amex.

The benefits in US concerning MR rewards are not much bigger. You may have forgotten that the example of the 1000 Amex points is based on <b> different currencies </b>.

So the 1000 Amex points will be reached in US after purchases of a total of 1,000 <b> USD </b>.

The programme rules state: "Earn one point for virtually every dollar you spend."

So spending of 1,000 US Dollar = 1.000 Amex Reward Points = 1.000 BA Miles

But European MR rewards is based on the local currency. So the 1,000 US Dollar spending is (assuming an exchange rate of about 1,30 USD per EUR) only a spending of 770,-- Euro.

This spending will deliver (e.g. in Germany): 770 MR points
The programme rules in Germany state:
"5 Membership Rewards Punkte entsprechen 4 BA Miles "

So the 770 MR points would in theory deliver 616 BA Miles.

Not to worse if you remember the fact that EUR and USD are fluctuating currencies. So I see not much difference between the two versions for Amex Germany and Amex US. Furthermore if you consider that Europeans have many changes to use their rewards on short haul flights with BA/IB.

In comparison I am convinced the "conversion rate" between MR and BA Miles is only slightly worse. So there is no reason to blame AMex for anything.

After all these are country specific rules and therefore in my opinion both exhange rates are ok!