The issue BA face is people have an expectation and when that expectation is dashed they get really angry !

Staff pizza and beers if we have had a good week. After a few moths no pizza. Where is the pizza ? We did not have a good week. Pissed off employee.

The reality is that status gives most people little other than free seat assignment.

if you travel business ( I do on my own dime ) then I get priority check in and lounge access anyway.

Yes the higher tiers get more avios etc but as a leisure tracker my avios come form card spend not travel.

I appreciate that there will be some who loose here but if you are traveling business anyway them most of the benefits are moot ( cringe at the gold members personal greeting).

I buy the best fare for my destination at the flight times I want. That excludes ba pretty much all of the time other than Avios redemptions.

I don't think that most of you will actually loose anything - but ba will as the gold card has driven loyalty very well and now that has vanished.

There are plenty of airlines and most of them offer a better premium class than ba for less money.