My experience was that when I just became a newly minted status member all those years ago (was around 7 years as a PS) I was initially boasting about being silver. That wore of quickly. Then, I rose to WP within a few weeks of starting a status run, and the WP card got shown plenty.
That was around 3 years ago now. Now, as a DJ and QF WP, I don't really care. I travel so much that people just assume i'm insane, and most my FB/Foursquare posts are from an airport lounge somewhere showcasing the local food/booze offerings.
I've had one DYKWIA moment, when I was SG briefly during an op-up on SFO-SYD. I was put in J with a beep-at-the-gate and shown a boarding pass of xxA and I said "but that's a window seat!". In my defence, i'd spent 4 hours in the BA lounge drinking, and was rather marinated. I immediately realised what i'd said and felt ashamed.
These days, i'm happy to guest people, or educate people how I rose to these levels with apparently little effort. As other people have posted, people become interested in all this stuff and they succumb to it too.
I may have the shiny cards, but my income is still relatively modest, but as I age, i'm becoming more philanthropic and starting to realise that I do have it good, and try to help those less fortunate.
Oh and I also treat every airline staff member with respect and courtesy. It's amazing how being polite and showing a smile to an FA on-board who's obviously having a bad day makes things that much better for them, and they visibly appreciate being appreciated!
The old sayings 'you catch more flies with honey than vinegar' and 'do unto others' holds extremely true in the aviation world.
That said though, I know my entitlements, and if there's someone on an airlines staff that doesn't i'll politely educate them, not play the DYWKIA card (I can't do it, I hate making a scene).