It's REALLY simple why this half baked program was rushed to market.

The new AA is currently hatching the new AAdvantage program, likely to be announced end-year.

If DL waited until the end of the year--they would come to market with a fully formed dreadful program and face mass defections to the new AA with a world beating program.

Now AA will simply follow DL's lead, announce a brand spanking new revenue based program, and DL will keep its current loyal travelers, seeing that AA is not ALL THAT MUCH better. United, totally bereft of any leadership, will simply follow the pack.