I agree with this. I would also add that as a 75K there have been numerous times where agents have bent over backwards to forgive fees, make changes, and just be helpful. The ability to book in advance because I know there is a price guarantee and that I can cancel up to a minute before my flight without losing a dime is invaluable to me.
Fee free changes for elites is something everyone provides (delta, united, american, jetblue etc). As an alaska gold i guess its still fine and alaska doesn't suck, but i don't see any reason to be mvp or lower and buying alaska airlines anymore. Only if price/schedule is better (which its not in mostly any case, since delta/southwest/jetblue are undercutting alaska on price on almost every route even from seattle).