Maybe so or maybe not. A Plat member, for instance, can take a Choice Benefit of either 20,000 miles or four SWU. To me, that means there is a 5,000 mile opportunity cost to using a SWU. For that reason, I just say, "Screw it" and take the Choice Benefit miles. I roll the gate upgrade dice flying LAX-JFK. Sometimes I lose and sometimes I win. Once I noticed even a Gold got upgraded.