I think it's a couple things about how one gets CP that gets folks fired up. Let me say I fly to get all my SW points "BIS" and don't add any other points from other sources. I've hit CP I think 5 years running and have a total CP usage of about 18.

At first it did bother me a little that SW sets CP as a goal for their top tier flying customers that could also be achieved with 2 CC sign ups and usage. But it dawned on me that this is more about a reward for achieving points, not for how much one actually rides around in their planes. Think about it that way and hey- 2 credit cards and about 20 minutes with a pen filling out 2 apps and some charge slips to get CP? Congrats.

I think where some of this tension comes into the forums is how some who seek advice about getting these cards with CP as the goal. They frame the discussions like they're gaming SW and asking for help getting a benefit/reward that minus the cards is done for the most part by flying. Again, "some"- not all do this. Those that don't do the card thing and do what I do to get to CP can take this as an assault on their seat time "investment" and then it's game on. Me? I'm over it.

It's just a race to the points- how one gets there has many routes.