No. Never get an upgrade. Even the life time 1K friends

said the status upgrades are near inexistent since long time ago, let alone the recent years.

The Status benefits are,  and most important to business travel,  during IRROP you get accommodate priority on rebooking,  optimize reoute if you are not happy with what is given to you,  sometimes hotel accommodation.  So when the peons are queuing up for reroute, reticket,  the elites can take care most of it thru elite dedicated phone line or at the lounge. 

免费升舱票 is a Pie in the Sky, only in theory.

Again, you can use your miles to upgrade, but it has to be on eligible fare codes which are definitely not the discounted coach fares most people buy.