I find the entire airline classes and pecking order peculiarly amusing. It's like small stage social warfare. That petty little curtain between the classes. Of course, to justify business and first, airlines I'm sure make economy worse than it has to be. Look what we'll do to you if you don't upgrade is basically their business policy. The only real perk are the lounges, which are far better places to spend the time, but for the same effective cost, you could stay in the most luxurious hotel known to mankind.
Contrary to popular belief, this third division Tidy Haired Thought Leader™ is on the wrong side of the curtain most of the time. I'm only allowed business for flights more than 8 hours intercontinental and not-under-any-circumstances North America. Plus the Concur robot is getting smart and sends memos to my boss, my boss's boss, and his boss if I book a ticket that costs more than the 'next cheapest logical fare'. I would have got back on the BA scheme if I'd done my next trip to Vancouver with them, but the robot won't let me, which left me the choice between Air Canada and some budget airline from Gatwick. I think I'm edging on Gold for Virgin because I do a lot of trips via Johannesburg. I could upgrade on my air miles, but I prefer to cash those in for cheaper holidays (or rather my wife does).