You are making a lot of assumptions that are not particularly valid. I rebook all the time if there is a significant point change in the choice fare, so if I have purchased a seat upgrade, the question of how the upgrade fee is handled is a factor. Sometimes I cancel and rebook on a different day because of a change in my schedule or a more advantageous SWA schedule on a different day. I have had a CP for over a decade, always earned by card spend rather than flights, because almost all of my flights are on points. At the same time, while regularly getting CP, I have never reached AL or ALP for myself or CP because of TQP awarded for spend. As for CP earned from a credit card sign up bonus, that has never applied in my case, I suppose I should churn my cards a bit more but I usually just achieve CP through regular spend and perhaps one or two paid flights. I suspect that many other CP holders are earning it the same way, by CC spend rather than by flights.