I'm at 26 nights this year and was pleasantly surprised with my 2009 Plat card in the mail last week. By the end of October I had given up on even getting Gold this year (I had 120+ nights last year). Agree that this makes terrific business sense -- it will definitely result in me steering more nights to Marriott in '09.

I also have to agree that giving more than is due to others doesn't mean that those who met the original criteria are losing out. I've been on the other end of this type of situation in the past with other programs. You're still getting what you earned and no less -- complaints have little merit.