And that is the point. While there are differences between the three programs, each of the legacy carriers has good and bad features. While UA and DL, at least for the time being, provide freebie domestic UG's to all elites, the question isn't whether you might possibly get an UG, it's whether you do get one.

1K's on UA hate that a Silver on a B fare trumps them. OTOH, on AA, you get to determine your own priorities for the use of stickers.

But, before anyone jumps ship, they ought to consider that programs tend to level off over 1-2 years. Right now, AA does not have a spend requirement, but DL and UA do. Bet you than in 18-24 months, AA has a spend requirement and DL/UA have some form of "sticker" system for less than top-tier elites.

If you recall the posts when one carrier raised its domestic change fee from $150 to 200 from all of the people who swore that they would never again fly that carrier, to three weeks later when the others (counting US as separate at the time) followed suit, you can see the future here.