Ah, Kawoh, I was sort of rooting for you there until your last email... but when you use the "f" word, game over -- you've abused another human being and lost the moral high ground.

And as a HHonors/Starwood/Marriott bigamist myself, I can say that terrible things and wonderful things have happened to me at all three. I don't detect a particular edge with any provider. I no longer choose a hotel in a new city because it's part of a particular program; I base my choices on individual experience and testimony from friends.