So if my understanding is correct;

Plat member with 1 XP at the moment will be "gifted" 299 XP to maintain status. And another Plat member with 301 XP will have 300 removed, also maintaining status. A difference of 599 XP. The loyal flyer gets penalized, the less loyal member is praised.

A friend of mine who has a Business class trip planned later in the year more or less for the sole purpose of earning XP's to keep status will cancel the flight and use his voucher next year. That's not exactly what the doctor ordered.