But, that is the point. People do make choices and to someone who finds downgrade compensation to be the most important factor when choosing a flight, AS loses. To others, booking based on price & convenience, perhaps AS has a better ticket price and a more convenient flight.

The real issue here is that for both UA & AS, the COC provide simply for a refund of the price difference, however that is calculated. The rest is just a customer service gesture and it could change without notice and at any moment.