I find myself getting angry about it because it really comes across as intentional. If we catch it then we are on the ball, if not, well then we lose. I think I have had 7 stays at different Marriotts since I joined and got a black Marriott card. 2 of those were actually fine at checkout. The others, both domestic and international, were with money generating problems. Oddly no money, or value was generated for me, only for Marriott. A few properties had real time wasting issues. In the middle of a promotion I got so fed up I cancelled 5 nights of stays. For a non business traveller who had been growing in my loyalty, and swaying decisions for my family trips Marriottt lost a lot of my trust. The initiatives they offer seem less interesting if an asterix at the bottem said that jumping through several hoops is included.
I liked being a Marriott cheerleader but after these incidences I find my husband noting that it is not worth the agro, I now tend to agree.