The author is mixing a few different topics together and what comes out is a mostly incoherent article with no point.

He devotes a chunk of his space to rising airfares. OK fine...nothing to do with loyalty programs.

He posts an anecdote about getting middle seats offered for his test flight. Sounds like a full flight, with his Gold Elite status getting him a guarantee that he'll be on the plane. By contrast, I booked a DL flight three months ago where the seatmap showed no seats available. I still booked it, thinking "No big deal...it's an airport-control thing...I'll get a seat when I check-in on the day of the flight." Nope - these days that turns into an IDB, even when you arrive 3 hours early like I did. I was handed a $400 check and told to go away until the next day. A low-elite status would have prevented that. (Of course, the airline even attempting the old VDB process might have too, but DL apparently does not do that anymore.) Elite status gets you on the plane, even if the seat assignment is lousy.

Then he talks about how lower F fares are inducing business pax to buy F, reducing upgrades. Okay...I suppose he's onto something here - had he done an article on this topic, that would make sense.

To me, elite status is more important now than ever. It is the only way I will risk flying any of the legacy six. They have (intentionally?) made the non-elite travel experience as miserable as possible. At every step of the way from seat assignment to phone support to check-in to boarding, the airline goes out of its way to make sure you not only get poor treatment, but you know why you are being mistreated. From Flight #1, you are made aware that you must proceed through the 25,000 mile rite of passage in order to gain marginally humane treatment. Just this past week, I asked for (and received) my once-in-a-lifetime status match on United to lowly Premier. I'll fly 'em maybe 15,000 miles this year, but the difference between non-elite service and low-elite service has never been greater than it is now, so it's a worthwhile time to play that card.

The author focused on upgrades, but upgrades and the bonus miles are far down on the list of benefits I value out of elite status. Just being treated like a human being is #1 on the list, and elite status gets me part of the way there.