What’s odd to me is that both American and Delta don’t treat their waivers as temporary:
(Not yet allowed to post links, but a simple google search will confirm the above statement)
there are quirks to both (American doesn’t have a waiver so much as a trade - $25K for $3000 in EQD, and Delta just upped the spend requirement for their highest level to an insane $250K, up from $25K), but there’s no doubt they’re around as a valid status-seeking strategy.
unclear why United seems hell-bent on treating the waivers as a yearly gift for cardholders