Another 'change I like'. Thanks UA! I already had four status - run flights booked in international P in January and February 2016 to jumpstart my status to Platinum; now those same flights will vault me to 1K. I'm the flyer who is apparently much despised, flying just four flights and making 1K. However, that's on my dime, thankyouverymuch. My employer only pays for the cheapest economy and I will pay my own way to upgrade if required.
That said, I agree with those who intuit that making it easier to make 1K must eventually result in downgrades to the benefits of the lower tiers, or perhaps the creation of new, higher tiers??? Either way, UA is focusing on the high value passenger with added benefits and services and it should pay off in the long run.