Sure there will be plenty of first time members. When I started flying a lot I didn't know hardly anything about the programs and certainly didn't research completely. Delta ended up giving me Silver a couple of months before I would have otherwise earned it. I imagine that was a good marketing move. I have two new coworkers that are almost new medallion members despite the fact that I have encouraged them to go elsewhere. I think both have no wised up and are putting their NW number on any flights they have with Delta. But, if I weren't informing them, they might be plugging away with Delta. CVG may have limited choices but they do have choices.