Unless what you receive is what you're entitled to, it's not a positive experience. It doesn't matter that you might have gotten more than you should have, and sure, that feels good now. At the end of the day, it points to failures in the system, in quality control and in fair and equitable treatment of all members of Mileage Plus.

If you rely on miles you didn't rightfully earn and find on 20 December 2012 that they have been taken away, will you hurry and book a flight to make up the miles? Complain to MileagePlus they took something you didn't deserve and ask to carry forward your status into the following calendar year?

The only "positive experience" will be when we all get credit for what we've earned, nothing more and nothing less.