O.k., so what I'm hearing is that even though one can earn miles from say, using a credit card and making lots of purchases, the really desireable points come from BIS - which are the points that will garner the great upgrades, lounge access et al. The points earned from purchases are really only good for what, basic free travel (at least that's what I've used them for in the past - in coach).

(Is it just me, or are these programs waaaayyyy too complicated? Or, perhaps I'm just so new to the concepts?)

DD