You raise some very good points. Of course, I sincerely hope you're wrong! "Free" coach tickets simply aren't worth much to me (especially with coach being as bad as it is these days.) Like many on FT, my devotion to MP (United) is fueled by my desire to earn f/c international travel within some "reasonable" period of time. Take away that ability, and you've taken away the devotion that causes me to fly United even when they're not the cheapest, nor the most convenient. At that point, I'd probably go back to using a cc that earns travel on any airline. Alas, if InsideFlyer is correct about 80% of the reward redemptions being for domestic coach tix, then I guess that puts me in the minority, with very little clout!