I agree with you and I think the airlines have created a de facto "super elite" status. For example, Exce Platinum on AA.

When I first became an AAdvantage memeber back in 1981, a simple Aadvantage member would be pulled from Y after the doors close and be brought up to F if there was an empty seat. Now, with so many FF members and 3 different tiers of "elites" in most airlines, it is only the top level of elite status in the different programs that truly gets distinction when flying on a consistent basis. Mind you, I am not talking about program awards.

The product of flying a person from point A to point B has become such a commodity on almost all airlines through their pricing and service structures and the FF programs have so many ways to accumulate miles without "Frequent Flying" that it is only when someone puts their butt in the seat for 100,000 miles a year that an airline will consistently bestow meaningful travel recognition and rewards.

I would suggest that the lower tier levels are now considered by the airlines as little more than a carrot to give you a taste of what is at the top of the elite structure which they hope you will aspire to achieve and thus actually fly with their airline or syndicate of airlines.