I'm sure there's a propensity to perceive every positive outcome in QR's world to be somehow related to one's status: it reinforces the feeling that status is something worth effort to acquire.

I stepped down from my Platinum pedestal this year, and I'm agreeable surprised at the Gold experience - different to Platinum in no way i have detected, apart from no Safwa on P fares, and reduced avios earnings. Those are crosses I can bear.

The economy cabin is home on around half my flights, and there the little extras remain unchanged. In premium cabins I believe the ethos still in force is all our passengers in this cabin are special, so no overt special treatment of Diamonds, or indeed of Golds.