CPU will never be what it was. Never. UA will continue to sell the seats out from under us. Period. So, what's a mother to do?

Speaking as a Premier now myself (I was a Gold or Platinum for four years with CO, so this is not an entirely new experience for me), I recommend we all rethink the stubborn refusal to pay for an upgrade we think we should get for free. I'm not piling on the entitlement bias, believe me. I'm merely recommending a practical approach to reality. Weigh the circumstances. Maybe that 4-hour flight is worth $199 to buy up FC. Maybe that 2-hour flight is not. Take your chances on the latter, not the former.

RNE, you'll be happier if you live in the world, instead of railing against it.