If 4 BA / IB flights is not going to be feasible going forward, then perhaps it's time to be considering another Oneworld ffp.

Although many of us are quite able to distinguish between Executive Club and the actual airline, you have to be flying BA/AA/IB to be getting any extra Avios due to your tier. You also really need to be flying BA metal to have any chance at an op-up. And you need to be flying through a few select airports (such as LHR) to be accessing a better lounge than a soft-landed Silver (or other Oneworld Sapphire) status would get you...