Of course, but what really matters is what SAS pays to the loyalty program. That more or less determines what program credits to the customer. Hence I think it's quite reasonable to assume that it's not gonna change much, and if it does, it will be in a way to become more similar to AFKL, not less. But as I say, it's not something I'm 100% confident about.

Within the Star Alliance environment, intra-European SAS Plus is essentially treated as business class, which is why you get access to *A lounges on those tickets for example - even though SAS obviously doesn't want to provide it. Credits to most programs are also same. It's only SAS Plus on longhaul tickets (incl. European feeders on such tickets) that are treated as premium economy in eyes of alliance partners.

Btw, what does Miles & More credit for European SAS Plus (standalone, without a longhaul connection) in the new status program? That could give us a hint, since it's very similar to the XP system in Flying Blue.