Yep, there's a world of difference between blatant points whoring and helping a mate out every now and again. I've got over 15,000 points and have probably helped mates out with tickets on no more than a dozen occasions since the loyalty point system came in back in 2002. All other points I've accrued have been as a result of games that I've attended. It makes little odds to me personally which system they employ as barring Bournemouth away, my points have been eligible to buy an away ticket for every game since Groclin in 2003 so every European away I've been to since has been done off my own points.
But while this system is fairer, it screws up future away trips in Europe with my mates as going forward I'll probably be the only one that qualifies out of our usual lot (I'm guessing this is the same for a lot of fans who like to travel in groups). One was saying before the derby last week that it should mean people on lower points get a chance and he was all positive about it. I pointed out to him that as someone with only 5000-plus points and not even on the CL scheme, he's so far down the pecking order that it's actually ruined his chances of pretty much ever attending another away game in Europe unless we decide to upon an unpopular fixture that won't sell out. He might still come for the piss-up but the fact that he's now no hope of obtaining a ticket for pretty much every European away might make him think twice about travelling - one of the reasons why Seville away was such a good trip was that we managed to secure tickets in the away end for him and his brother after a huge amount of networking on the day of the game.