Thanks for this perspective , i agree those are viewpoints that give it a different twist.
Indeed they might be afraid to alienate the lucrative creditcard Aspire income + now that the F&B crediit has been deployed US-wide, it's difficult to appeal to hotel owners to return complimentary breakfast for golds,diamonds, lifetimediamonds, diamond reserves....

I might have the wrong impression but this "Honors society" seems to match Bonvoy Ambassador status in exhaltation rank.
With Lifetime Diamonds being demoted like Bonvoy lifetime titaniums in the pecking order.