Presumably there is further confusion injected into the process by those (like me) who booked prior to the new prioritization system going into effect. That problem will eventually run its course, however.

I don't really like conspiracy theories, but it is tempting to go along with the idea that if an airline makes its upgrade system both byzantine and opaque, there will be precious few who will be able to tell if it is functioning as intended or, worse, if exceptions are made at the whim of the airline.