Last week, ORD-EWR, the pilot sent back a signed business card to everyone in FC. Over the past years I, as others have reported here, have received personalized 1K thank-you cards on maybe 3-4 occasions.

Once, about 3-4 years ago, the purser got on the PA during taxi-out, and thanked me and another 1K by name. That was one of the rare occasions that I got seriously angry with UA, and entered into protracted discussions with their management about that practice. Skipping the details, I simply note that from my perspective it is fortunate that UA has ended (at least on the flights that I've been on) such shenanigans.