Well, you're getting the United Club Membership (for better or for worse) plus redeemable miles. The legacy Presidential Plus Mastercard would get you up to Platinum status based on spend, but that isn't particularly easy to achieve either. The primary benefits of the Club card is: 1.5 miles/dollar spent, Premier Access (which can be purchased per flight), Club Access (which can be purchased per airport), 2 free bags (which can be paid per direction) and no Forex Fees
United needs to keep something on the table for those that really do fly a lot. If silver was included at the club level your cost would surely go up, and your realised benefits would definitely go down.

I don't think that any of the customer service queues would qualify as being a hotline either. Also, there isn't much difference between the Silver level CS queues than the regular ones. The big differences start on Platinum or 1K (and even then they are really just the regular elite line now.)

Much like when someone is upset that they didn't get an upgrade, if you want to be treated like an elite flyer, fly more. Or you can be like me, Celebrate your Bronze Status, and remember for just $395 (or $375 for the lucky ones) you are getting 75% of what you get for Silver.