I was never quite at the level of spend that you were reaching, usually straddling silver/gold medallion with my own travels, but my use cases and takeaway are the same as yours: realistically, this change means I have no reason to prefer Delta on brand loyalty grounds for either business or personal travel. On domestic travel, I'd occasionally mix airlines for scheduling reasons regardless. But what this really means is I'll no longer prioritize getting in those long haul international flights on Delta or a partner airline because it helped secure status.

Its stunning to me that these changes have managed to alienate so many people across the spectrum. Its not just the higher barrier to entry for the lowest tier that is earning complaints. The value of the miles earned was always much less important to me than the value of the occasional upgrades the status provided, or very occasionally the special support phone lines.

Perhaps the reality for the program really is that only the "whales" matter. We certainly see that play out all over the software industry. But if that's the case, it sure changes my porpoise-sized travel habits. My loyalty will now be to Amex moreso than an individual airline.