I don't know...perhaps it will slightly modify how F/J promos are run. But overall, I don't think it will change the programs too much. Since we're talking purely domestic US here, the bar is set by Southwest. They've always had "fair" fares and they have a very strong FFP for their market. For Delta to say "We can offer competitive fares, but we have to water down Skymiles to do it" would ring hollow.

Besides, Skymiles is a profit center for DL. It's in their interest for people to consider 1 Skymile to be a comparable currency with 1 AAdvantage mile or 1 MileagePlus mile.

I don't know enough about how DL handles comp upgrades for elites to know if it will have much effect on that. Obviously, the airlines' goal is to sell those F seats. If they succeed in that by offering reasonable fares, then yeah, I can see where it might be harder to upgrade.