I was a few points short, and a short break to TLL in Dec got me to gold for the first time - I won't be renewing though, as for me the benefits aren't worth it...

I'm midlands based, so for shorthaul BHX or EMA is easier (and cheaper) than heading to LHR to fly BA. Longhaul I tend to fly J (or if BA then F on 241s - I despise CW) so I get most of the benefits (lounge access, extra bags) anyway.

Not chasing Gold frees me from sticking to OW, so I can pick the airline I want to fly based on product, price and convenience, which will more than make up for the few avios I miss out on (most of my points come from CC anyway).

I redeem exclusively in F using 241s (off to Saint Lucia on the 12th!) and my partner and I have a lot of flexibility about when/where we go, so there's no benefit to me on the redemption side either.

I'll probably hit silver without much effort, and the extra bag on domestic AA may come in handy, but the soft landing will see me through until Feb 19 anyway! I can quite happily cope with J lounges and check in!

So, I guess it very much depends on your flying/redeeming pattern - midlands based and long haul J/F, I just don't see the point. If I lived closer to LHR or flew long haul Y then it may be a different story. But for now, I'm happy being free to fly who I want and not worrying about whether I'm going to make renewal or not!