Casual flyers don’t need to manufacture DM routes. FWIW I got diamond organically flying EU <> HK simply for the purpose of seeing family every two months. So that’s 12 long haul sectors. In J on CX/QR I typically yield 100 SP per sector so I cross the line without doing any “runs”. I do however often pick the frugal exEU tickets.

Flying is pricey but time with family is priceless and a metal tube in the air doesn’t faze me when your average white collar spends dozen more hours commuting to work.

I’m extremely happy being able to afford flying like this on my own dime for my own purpose. Zilch for work.