"Having $200 to spend at each IC hotel's minibar now being replaced by just yearly $500 F&B voucher across all IHG hotels"

This is indeed the first step to integrate RA(AMB) into IHG-1rewards...
Could be this is the first of many pilots ....

I sincerely hope the :
guarenteed early check in
guarenteed late checkout
cat+2 upgrade
will remain with the integration, otherwise a lot of high spenders will feel pi**ed off

AMB has lost its use for IHG,
as in the past it was used to drive those from HIX, HI, CP to IC
(Larger Lower/Mid supports smaller Upper)
but with now the positioning of Indigo / Voco,
acquisition of Kimpton, Regent, Six Senses
(Upper portfolio expanding does not need push from lower/mid,
the guarenteed AMB/RA has become more of a cost/liability)
there is evidence that the model of IHG-1rewards across all brands is the direction to pursue ....
IHG wishing to avoid the drama that is Marriott Bonvoy exclusion list ......


as in the LL comments' it is indeed a shame that the unique minibar aspect of RA gets the chop, minibar sets the difference versus Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Accor from a marketing perspective