No question joining Aeroplan in 2001 (they had a sign up, get free 1000 points promotion) has changed my life for the better.
Over the last 14 years, I have been able to use cheaply (freely?) acquired points for multiple round the world trip in J and F class, without ever getting anything above my tangerine card, and without having to fly Air Canada (much).
I have helped many people extract value from their AE points, to the point, where non-flyers are going on J RTWs vacations every couple years at very little cost.
Thank you Aeroplan for allowing people in Canada who dont fly often, to see the world in comfort
oh, and AC, thank you for all the recent opups