If you are looking for upgrades as a lower level elite, isn’t the solution just to avoid hub to hub routes and to avoid elite heavy flight times (Monday AM, Thursday evening)? This goes for any airline. To and from LGA this year, I’ve been upgraded multiple times as the lowest level elite on both American and Delta. As a SM I was even upgraded to F on an ATL to LGA flight with a companion this year (the flight was the Friday evening after Thanksgiving, but still). For work travel, I always try to fly out on Sunday afternoon or midweek, and I try to fly back Midweek or Friday evening (I can thankafully schedule meetings pretty freely).