I agree that it's not worth sticking with CO post 75k: there's no incremental benefit--and there's an opportunity cost in losing what you could get with another carrier. I have also discovered that Continental's competitors offer more.

American: I have flown 52 segments with American this year. Eight have been on RJ's or Props. I have secured the exit row each time, even buying a ticket on the day of departure. Of the 44 segments I have flown on the rest of the fleet, I have been upgraded to first or business on 43 segments. I have been upgrade on all international flights: two using miles, one using eVIP's (SWU's). American gives eight per year to EXP's. It also offers Platinum (not Executive Platinum) for life after two million miles--miles from all sources: bonus, credit card, etc.

Delta: This company offers six SWU's a year to Platinum Elite flyers. It also has a bigger network that CO. The other thing Delta does is allow passengers to earn the equivalent of EQM's from other sources. On the DL thread, someone calculated that a person could generate 65k MQM (their EQM's) without flying. There are offers to get elite miles by staying at Hilton's, renting from Avis or Budget. You can also get them from an Amex card! Delta also has elite-for-life, including Platinum elite.

What I have come to realize is that American and Delta have a reward/loyalty program. ^ Continental just has a reward program.