Agree. There is language in the passenger agreement that allows for changes but like you, I view this like changing a booked itinerary to the Grand Canyon to a trip to Bryce Canyon. For a European visitor to the US, Bryce Canyon is very nice and would be an interesting place to visit, but it’s not the Grand Canyon.
We”d have been happy with a downgrade from a Hilton class hotel to a holiday inn class hotel, if the new hotel was on Lake Como. So far, Gate 1 doesn’t seem to see it that way and hasn’t appeared to care that we and probably a hundred plus other booked passengers, aren’t happy with the change.