I think the issue is this.
Someone gets a million miles and becomes
permanent 1P. How does this flier get to 1K? Answer: by flying 100000 miles or the requisite number of segments in a calendar year. Permanent premier exec doesn't (so far as I've heard) give a 50000 leg up on 1K status.
BTW, AnnaS, you have mail: don't buy that
theatre ticket.