Speaking solely as a member, I am in full agreement with JonNYC and brp - two of our most knowledgeable and experienced posters on many issues. But rather than be accused of being a colluder or insider group member (and anyone who makes that statement needs to stick around and read much more,) let me share an opinion.

Is it mere coincidence that some significant changes - for good of for worse, depending on your POV - have occurred after extensive posting about related issues here on FlyerTalk, on fora where no official or visible presence is maintained by an airline or lodging program?

E.g. many people have posted of their successes in the Challenge program while never flying American, completing concurrent Challenges or in maintaining status by completing yet another Challenge after taking a month or three with lesser status, and that AA has tightened up so only AA operated and marketed (e.g. codeshare) flights work, and largely closed the other loopholes mentioned?

Is it mere coincidence? Having hung around here for seven year and seen many of the changes not to mention occasional reports of members who have taken it upon themselves to see how far they can stretch rules, I tend to believe less in coincidence the greater the number of events that seem to indicate causality I see.