It would be possible to distinguish between valuable benefits which are not a function of how many people are granted them, and those which are.

Fee bag allowance and other fee waivers: - I don't care how many people get it.

E+ availability - (easily) can be expanded to fit demand, even generates some funds from buyups

Lounge access - obviously increased numbers has a negative impact

Upgrades - proper prioritization solves the problem - I don't care if there are 80 people on the upgrade list, provided their names are below mine

Award availability - another opportunity to differentiate (not clear if they do today)

So perhaps a creative response is possible to the increased number of travellers which has led to an increased number of *G elites.

Look at the lousy *G lounge in SIN as a bad type of response