US wise, I haven't been this year, and probably would have gone a few times (perhaps with routings involving a couple of extra stops for TPs.
To be honest, Im finding many places in the US to be too expensive for what you get. Not to say there aren't bargains hotel etc. wise, or places in Asia are any cheaper, but I'm not wanting to pay as much for a NYC hotel for a night as the flight over there.

As for those easily hitting gold targets, is the BAC of any major use? If you're dropping ££££ for J/F fares, seat, lounges, fast track etc. perhaps included, and primarily fly BA, does a silver or gold card benefit them that much?

Someone like myself, who spends a fraction of others, out of my own pocket, does get the benefit of a shiny card for the few flights I might take (some will be additional just for the sake of it, others intentional).
A lounge makes me more like to stay with the fold.
Same with seat selection. Might cost BA a few £££ over the year, but probably negligible to them in the grand scheme of things.

I don't know if the US is becoming less attractive.
Still plenty going out there, especially in the premium cabins, but places such as Dubai might be more attractive to those "low spend" leisure travellers who BA aren't too fussed about.