To those asking what does AC get, certainty of revenue is a very major concern especially in airlines, that is why businesses often give you a discount if you pay a year or whatever up front instead of the minimum period, same reason cell phone contracts exist and you get a fancy phone for a small monthly payment that barely adds up to the phones retail cost.

Such FF benefits in my view seem roughly in line with the type of incentive a business might offer for such a financial commitment, and AC can only win if the full 20k isn't used up.

It being "unfair" isn't really a business factor unless it'd seriously jeopardize the business from those other members, and those who earned status the regular way aren't losing anything so it isn't really of any consequence.