OK, I should be more careful about making general statements, when in fact the issue is a very complicated one. All of MY acquaintances that did not requalify experienced the "soft landing" and only dropped one level, instead of ending up with the actual level that they earned.

I am sure there is some sort of complicated formula that determines who actually ends up with a certain level, when they do not requalify for the same level they had the previous year. It probably is based on how short they actually were of reaching some level, what city they reside in, and how much revenue they actually have contributed to NW in the past (with the expectation that they might rebound and contribute again in the following year, provided they are not too upset!!)