Not at all - the reason I feel this way is because say I want to do a flight from IAD-SEA - if the fare is in S-class & there's no S-class availability for IAD-SEA nonstop, only, say, H or higher, which generally increases the fare significantly, but there is S-class for IAD-LAX-SEA, then I'd expect to get the miles for the IAD-LAX-SEA if that's what I flew. If I was given the same amount of miles for IAD-LAX-SEA that I would have been given for the IAD-SEA nonstop, I'd just fly on AS to save the money as they are generally cheaper. The good thing about miles is that they incent loyalty - without them & with a shift in earnings, then I'd be more inclined to go with the price - UA's great & all that, but a coach class seat is a coach class seat in a lot of instances. Change the way you award Frequent Fliers & they'd be likely to change the airlines they fly.