Quite an interesting discussion -- I use the B of A cards heavily -- been a checking account customer for 30 years with them. I am considering dumping off the business card though -- originally got it for the miles, and kept it for the companion 1st class award. I think I will follow up with them.
The curious thing (I live in AZ) is that I also use have and use the B of A USAirways cards -- not quite as heavily. With the merger, those might be the cards I kill off next year (and move over to whatever American Airlines card is out there with a promo offer.
For me the companion tickets are useful (we have friends in Portland and a timeshare in Hawaii so we can use the tickets for the Hawaii flight), and the partner awards can be awesome at times (just picked up two RT 1st Class Cathay Air tickets for next year to Australia and the Miles/ticket payoff is VERY high).