What I find interesting is how arbitrary these fees are on award tickets.
Within the last 16 months (all before 9/11), we have redeemed miles for travel on various airlines, and had very different fees assessed. Here is the breakdown...
Winter 2000: BA Club World to India, fees and taxes $20/ticket
Spring 2001: NW, Coach to SIN, taxes and fees $90/ticket. No expedited booking, etc.
Summer 2001: BA, First to India, taxes and fees $25.
Summer 2001: NW, WBC to India, taxes and fees $120 (very similar dates as above BA trip!)

Seems like NW is tacking on everything they possibly can, or BA is eating a bit of the costs.

It would be nice to see some uniform taxation. Pretty soon, the fees are going to exceed the actual fares!