Dovster, I hate to say it.... but...

Reading your posts of the past, you are a smart person and you know from reading the DL forum, you, and you alone have to manage your relationship with DL. When it comes to choosing routes, flights, partner airlines, earning miles..... anything to do with your entire travel experience on / with DL, you have to take the drivers seat.

DL is no longer a customer focused airlines and you have just learned part of that reality.