So I'm one of those people who doesn't fly a lot but was able to maintain Gold (and thanks to pandemic rollover Platinum) status thanks to the MQD waiver and MQM status boost on my Amex Plat DL card, combined with 2-3 flights a year on Delta (one TATL). I was consistent Silver for 8 years, then Gold thanks to some unexpected business travel pre-pandemic. I'm doing all my spending on that card (S60-70K a year) to get the MQD waiver, MQM boosts and regular miles for booking free flights.

I'm not begrudging that Delta wants more valuable customers than me and doesn't want to give customers like me status any more. I like Delta but I have no relationship with them, it's a business decision after all for me. Delta can make decisions as a company that benefit me, or are bad for me, all fine. But I will determine for myself what is most beneficial for me, and clearly that will be to let Delta status and my Amex DL plat card go, in favor of booking the cheapest airline (I'm in NYC so I have lots of choices), and probably getting the Chase Sapphire Preferred card for it's travel rewards and ditching Amex all together. I will be Gold next year still, so will probably still fly Delta once or twice to finish up my miles and use my last companion cert. And using my current status to get status matched on JetBlue and may be United?

In the end I think that Delta might not miss my business much, but AMEX surely will.