As a millennial in advertising, sounds like someone really sold/"inspired" a board of executives who have no idea how to market to younger crowds with this World of Hyatt nomenclature/"-ist" nonsense.
These changes actually benefit me, since I can hit base point threshold but have difficulty hitting 50 or 60 nights, but I also have no motivation to stay at a hyatt outside of those stays, for a variety of reasons.
SPG will be seeing most of my stays, and even if they devalue the program with the merger I think lifetime status is more attainable with them (which will probably mean nothing in 10 years).
Tried hilton diamond this year, and too frustrated with inflexibility of late checkout options.