What's the right point structure?

[Rudi]

so - for those being Gold actually like me (by paying $25/year) but not having 10 nights or 25 nights, the best bet to maintain Gold for another year is to pay the renewal $25 NOW (to maintain the 50% bonus-points etc.).

I personally use the Sheraton points only to change them 1:1 into UA-miles.

[Rudi]

what I like about the Sheraton points is, that I also get points for (in my case business-) meals only (at our Atlantis Arabella-Sheraton in/above Zurich with a very good restaurant (which is a rare exception for a hotels).

[Catman]

Rudi: I take the same approach soemwhat by paying my 25-dollar SCI program membership.
It's a good backup program, Sheraton has almost always bailed me out of an emergency hotel room situation (being stuck somewhere because of storms) and Thanks to Sheraton I got an extra free night at the Westin Maui.

Confession: I paid the 25 dollar membership renewal. I could nto wait for whatever Starwood's coming out with so at least I have
something (and 25 Membership Rewards POINTS!) CATMAN