I always enjoyed a significant Avios premium in having both my kids as Silvers. Particularly on low earning Y fares, sometimes the Avios yield far any given sector is triple when you are Silver compared to Blue. It can make a significant difference to the Avios stockpile. Master Tafflyers DFW-HKG would be an example of a $400 ticket earning 6000 instead of 2000 Avios merely by virtue of being silver. At my valuation, that makes a roughly 10% ticket price discount.

Having said that, there is never any point having status if it is not going to be of use to you later. The cards aren't that cool looking.