This seems like a serious devaluation of the MileagePlus program in general. The real title and news headlines here should be that United is slashing the base earning rate by 40% which is significant. Previously it was 5 miles per PQP for united flights and now it is 3 miles per PQP. I do have a United elite status and credit card so, technically I earn 1 more mile per PQP but none of my family members have elite status or credit card, which means that now each of the family member traveling with me will get 40% less miles (consequently getting that many miles less in the family pool). That is a serious devaluation.
For family members to earn better rates, United is "encouraging" getting a credit card but the cheapest credit card available comes with a $150 annual fee (technically the Gateway card is there but it requires $10k spend on that one). With this change it seems like there is not much value in crediting the non-elite/non-carded family member's miles to United and instead better off crediting it to JetBlue or Avianca or Aeroplan