I think this can be explained better by BW, but I think there is an assumption that the three tiers (Standard, Deluxe, Collectors) would be into perpetuity. I just want to challenge that assumption and throw in the thought that maybe the three tiers were only for launch. Moving forward BW only really wanted 2 tiers and 2 groups of users. The two groups being those who are subbing and those who are not.
As far as the tiers, I have never seen anything from Bioware that said that Deluxe Edition users would be separate from Standard edition users. It was obvious that there was going to be a difference between CE users and SE user through the VIP store. Maybe it has nothing to do with how much you paid, but instead whether you are CE or not. Unfortunately, Deluxe are not CE, therefore sharing the rewards, or lack thereof, as SE.
The reason this make sense to me is because of how the rewards for transfers & some of the other rewards that have been based. Despite mumblings there was no bonus on transfers to CE, DE, or SE. None of them got any particular priority. Therefore the tiering most not be the biggest priority for BW. When game time was awarded, it was either given seperately to those who were subbed and those who had played then were coming back. Through most of the rewards, including the F2P reward, there is definitely a push to reward those who are subbed and then those who come back/newly sub. I think these are the 2 priority groups, so to those CE, DE, and SE users the real priority is just whether you are subbing or not.
Since that is the real priority, every one of us is getting the main perks, therefore CE, DE, and SE perks are just a bonus. I have never seen anywhere that said the DE users would get perks throughout the life of the game. DE got the digital items when they purchased therefore they got what they paid for. As for CE users, it was built into the game that there was going to be a difference between CE and SE users. Therefore DE users were always going to be shunted in with SE users. There was nothing in-game that every differentiated DE users from SE users. DE users got CE perks, but weren't CE users. The writing was on the wall. While it may have never been made explicit, there was nothing that ever said there was going to be tiered rewards for different SE, DE, or CE users. However, from the start the game was BUILT with additional content for CE users.
I think the biggest thing is for BW to come out clear about this, but I don't see an explanation that is going to be much different then this one. The DE bonus was a one-shot deal, where as CE bonuses were always going to be in perpetuity because an element of the game was going to be built around them. All BW has done is continue in the SAME EXACT reward model they have since they issued rewards since live. Separate rewards for current users and new/lapsed user, anything else is gravy. I think that SE and DE users need to understand that your edition counts for less to BW then your subscription.