People who constantly complain that the $200 credit is hard to use and why don't they do it the way Chase does it seem to miss the obvious, that if it was like Chase's credit it would cost Amex much more, and therefore they couldn't provide the same level of credit. For Chase, the "travel credit" is really just a reduction in the AF. The card is really a $250/year card.
Whatever Amex does to replace or change the credit, it has to still be somewhat difficult to use or they will have to reduce the amount.
Personally, I never have any difficulty using the entire credit. There are still ways to do it, discussed in FT itself if you do the legwork. However, I would welcome a different credit, but I DON'T want it to be too easy to use, because then Amex would have to cut back on other benefits.