Does buying airline tickets with zero regard to miles save more cold hard cash?

That's what I've been doing since the beginning of this year. MY *only* goal
was to get the lowest prices possible. So far, I've saved $2700, compared to
the same flying pattern last year. These included no-mileage fares on HA,
SQ, NH, and a bunch of other airlines that offer useless miles. I've even found
no-mile tickets from questionable travel agencies, but the flights were all fine.


The downside is that I will lost my elite status is two or three airlines at the
end of this year.

I'm still wondering if it was worth it....