Originally Posted by
ma91pmh
You would have to be insanely naive (and that is a much more lenient expression than I'd use if this were a face to face or Facebook discussion where I didn't have to worry about moderators) to think MP is anything other than an attempt to replicate FT
(emphasis added)
Your original assertion was "replace", basically assuming a zero-sum game (FT has to win or lose, MP has to win or lose). Why do you assume that? Or are you asserting that they are out to "replicate" FT?
In that case, naturally a forum meant to discuss frequent flyer programs, manufactured spend and so on is going to have overlap in discussion topics and format (I mean, really, how would you expect them to be
radically different when they are talking about many of the same topics?), and neither FT nor MP has to win or lose, it's not a zero-sum game. So your argument of "hey, they should shut it down because they aren't as big as FT" doesn't really follow if it's not a zero-sum game. Everyone can win. From what I've gathered talking to Randy myself, that's probably how he sees it.
Originally Posted by
ma91pmh
And the only reason anyone paid a dime to join is for the points benefits, that could have been achieved anywhere.
So why isn't it? I'd probably give cash to FT if they offered benefits like MP did. Yet they don't.
You seem awfully invested in trashing MP's business model. So, you think IB is doing this all out of the kindness of their heart, as opposed to that evil blackguard Randy Petersen and his henchmen, who should shut their thing down because of reasons, and leave FT alone?