If the OP is flying 221K miles in nine months, then he could be well on his way to (if not already attained) top-level status in at least two alliances. Thus the solution is not to recognize Gold+ status throughout the alliance, but to fly with another airline/alliance to obtain the benefits one values.

Personally, I find the *A lounge at LHR to be far, far better than any UC I have ever visited - indeed there's no comparison. The food is far more plentiful, the decor is far less dreary and last century, the booze is free and there's no sultry barman getting in the way. And also, the restrooms work and have decent toiletries.

Having said that, it does get fairly busy (but not as busy as the Sen lounge at FRA, or the UC in LAX T7 or SFO Domestic, where I've been unable to find a seat sometimes.

well why all this talk of restrictions--wouldn't it be better to service your best customers and expand lounges!

It would be possible to distinguish between valuable benefits which are not a function of how many people are granted them, and those which are.

Fee bag allowance and other fee waivers: - I don't care how many people get it.

E+ availability - (easily) can be expanded to fit demand, even generates some funds from buyups

Lounge access - obviously increased numbers has a negative impact

Upgrades - proper prioritization solves the problem - I don't care if there are 80 people on the upgrade list, provided their names are below mine

Award availability - another opportunity to differentiate (not clear if they do today)

So perhaps a creative response is possible to the increased number of travellers which has led to an increased number of *G elites.

Look at the lousy *G lounge in SIN as a bad type of response