Hi everyone - I used to be CP on WN (thanks to folks on FT for helping me in 2010 when I was trying to earn it) and stopped trying last year to renew as my wife is too busy to travel with me very often and decided to switch to a mainline carrier as my job responsibilities are changing and I do now have occasional international travel.

Where I am right now:
1. 2012 Premier Miles YTD: ~22,500 (all *A, none on UA metal yet - have 3 short segments booked now)
2. 2012 Premier Segments: 9.5
3. Chase UA MP Explorer Visa Holder
4. Priority Pass Premier (full version which gives access to United Clubs in the US)

I've been reading around a lot and have explored a variety of options and it sounds like now that Premier Silvers don't get E+ until T-24, that there isn't really any value beyond what I could get from the United Club Card. As an ORD-based traveler (90%+ of domestic travel for work is to DCA/IAD/BWI, PHX, EWR/JFK/LGA, MIA/FLL, MSP, SAN, and PIT), do I have any hope of (as Premier Silver and then possibly reaching Premier Gold)?:

Question 1: T-24 E+ availability (average height, can live with a middle seat)? Will this improve substantially by reaching Premier Gold?
Question 2: Complimentary upgrades to First - I know, I know all the higher level elites are already angry about the changes, but on the routes mentioned above, do I have any hope? I'm not a good early morning traveler but happy to fly anything else)? Will this improve substantially by reaching Premier Gold?

I can't easily predict what my total travel for the year will be but it's reasonable to expect 2 trips to Europe each year on *A (likely onLufthansa, SWISS, or Turkish) which have already happened for this year (hence all the miles with no UA metal flights yet). With that in mind, I'll end the year somewhere between 40,000 and 55,000 miles so I may have a shot at making Premier Gold.

Question 3: Is it worth using my Priority Pass to go to the United Club at ORD on my next flight out and getting the first-year free (instead of $395) application for the United Club Card so that I will get (a) no requirements on minimum UA segments to earn Premier Silver status, (b) Premier Security/Check-In

Question 4: Is there anything else I should be doing to improve my ability to reach Premier Gold? I use Hotwire/Priceline or Hotels.com for all travel so prefer to keep costs low.

Thanks. I really appreciate everyone's help.