Flying Club: 'soft landing' from Gold to Silver

Sorry if someone has already mentioned this (in which case, please delete, Mods), but I've just noticed this:

If you do not earn enough Tier Points to retain your Silver or Gold membership, you will automatically revert back to a Silver member from Gold and a Red member from Silver.

Is this not an actual, new, bona fide improvement?

It's here under How long will my tier points last?

NYLON

This indeed happened to me a few days ago, was expecting to be red after a year of redemption flights, but am silver.

Has this not always been the case?

I dropped to Silver from Gold when in stopped flying virgin a few years ago.

I don't know, to be honest: I always thought BA had the 'soft landing' and VS didn't.

Has this not always been the case?
I dropped to Silver from Gold when in stopped flying virgin a few years ago.

We did too