The credit card thing is a pretty minor adjustment. Sure it could happen that someone spends their way to 1K status but that is going to be an extreme exception.
What is more interesting is that the CC spend probably now counts towards milestones to earn PP. Not a game changer but +20PP bonus for card spend is something.

Now I hope that since United took so little time thinking about the mileage program that they put those resources to fixing the food on long haul international. I can dream...