I guess retirement gives one free time to ponder, or even care about such things.

A corporation really doesn't give a hoot about loyalty, per se. It's your dollars, always has been. That upgrade, was an unsold seat, always has been. The award seat may have been unsold, or they'll just make up the difference with someone buying a ticket the day before. Corporations have scads of data and they're better about using it.
It's not so esoteric.

Work on your golf game, or take up pickleball. The musings in this thread aren't worth the time in the grand scheme of things.