I'm newly minted GGL and in the end its simply about better customer service. If the 3K is easy enough (and do consider over achieving for 3500 and GUFs) then you should bother. I do TP runs and a couple of clever holidays to maintain the extra miles, but my day to day is CE so getting a break from family and friends and a couple of hours of people making me drinks in the CCR is really a boon.

Gold line will fix many problems, but the GGL line is still better.