I have been GS since merger with Continental. I am a 3MM. I am self-employed. No coprporate travel department.

My recent history:

2020 - GS thanks to flying a lot in 2019
2021 - GS thanks to UA extending status (I flew only 1/1/20-3/15/20)
2022 - GS thanks to UA extending status
2023 - not invited back to GS (about 33,000 UA PQP in 2022). Asked for a challenge and easily met it. Flew about 65,000 UA PQP in 2023 (76,770 total PQP)
2024 - not invited back to GS and received notice "we are pleased to welcome you to Premier 1K status"

Now as a 3MM I am permanent 1K, so being welcomed to 1K felt silly.

I liked being GS because of irrops, decent chance at upgrades, and upgrades on award tiickets, in that order. I can pay for the United Club but I find irrops handling invaluable. I fly over 100,000 air miles annually, mostly a lot of domestic trips in coach, but 4 or more high-priced Polaris tickets each year, which has usually taken me to the GS threshold, until this year.