Agreed with this. I don't buy the "change in perceived value". If I have a benefit and then other people seated around me also get that same benefit without impacting my ability to continue getting the benefit, it doesn't make the benefit any less valuable to me. Unless you are a DYKWIA type who wants to feel important .

An exception would apply in the case where someone is doing a bunch of MRs to obtain EXP so they can get a free drink in coach-- in this case, they can now buy up to MCE and be just as happy (of course, ignoring all the other benefits of status). But again, it's creating more ways to get a benefit (buy MCE or have status, not just one or the other). That's unquestionably a good thing for frequent flyers.