I have successfully bid for an upgrade on VS and don't think it weakened the product, nor did I advertise it to those who paid more. The fact is that J price is (usually) inflated and counting on a bid or JCM working is not guaranteed to a clientele who for sure want it. There was no way I was paying $5K SFO<>LHR but I did pay $600 + $800 + $800 pretty happily to fly in J. I did not get the seat I wanted and on the way out I had to sit next to a spoiled brat kid but still I think it's a good hybrid of keeping the product premium and making money on a seat that might have gone unsold or to a non-rev. I don't think it degrades the product. I think the worn out cushions on the D1 seat on ~30 year old 767's degrade the product. But, what do I know? Without a doubt, microeconomics was my absolute worst class in college -- by far.