UA manages inventory to maximize yield, not to placate GS members. If there was no GS level, I doubt it would have much of an impact on inventory management. Ultimately, I'm fairly certain having fewer people around who purchase the last minute high fare/full fare tickets is a bad thing, not a good thing. I fail to find your argument compelling.
Agreed... i fall into the domestic warrior category flying 250k+/yr domestic first...i never see empty seats and based on anectdotal complaints over lack of CPUs, i don't think the seats are being filled on the cheap.