As a Status Match 100K (second time around), I guess these changes are a slight negative to me but won't change my behavior. In a year, with my pool, I do currently earn a few free tickets, and that will now all go poof. Those tickets are hard to effectively use -- and now even harder with fewer transcons -- but I have used then for otherwise "expensive" fares (over $100). It was a good option to have in weird circumstances -- like needing a summer transcon when all the published fares on all airlines were expensive, and nobody else had decent frequent flyer redemptions available. Oh well. Almost all of my purchased tickets are under $40, so these freebies were just gravy. And now I can give Gold status to a family member and they will certainly appreciate it.