Hi,

UK Diamond member here ( no credit card for me)
Have been diamond for the past few years ( usually on nights ( helped over the pandemic years with the q4 double night credit ) or spend in the past couple of years
Have not been to the US since the pandemic. ( i see less value in he US hiltons esp with the GBP:USD exchange rate Trips have been to Europe/UAE/Japan so I still see good value in Diamond status ( ie free breakfast and lounge access ( though some lounges are better than others) as well as welcome amenities
After my trip to Japan in early December , I will requalify on the existing method ( ie 60 nights and just over 120k points) but as I'm now semi retired , earning 60 nights next year would probably not be possible ( and the 80 nights with $18k spend not possible) . However, with some careful planning, 42 nights should be possible
However, as above, I am slightly worried about devaluation of benefits going forward as well as the increase in Diamond members ( so potentially fewer upgrades)
For example at breakfast at Hilton Hiroshima in Japan, we get paper cranes to put on our tables ( multicoloured/silver for diamond and yellow for Gold). There have been a good number of gold members based on the number of cranes.
Assuming most of them are currently between 40 & 60 nights for Gold, under the new scheme , most of them would become diamonds and increase pressure on upgrades and lounge access ( and in japan it can be busy/reservations needed at peak times)
Next year will probably be ok ( and will also try IHG/Nikko hotels in Japan in places where hilton does not have a footprint ie Nara/okayama/kanazawa/hokodate)
Still find some reasonable use of points in Conrads in Japan and Hiltons in kyoto where the 5 for 4 nights can save some cash though it is harder to earn points without the cc spend
Regards

TBS