You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I respectfully believe you are wrong that the grass isn't necessarily greener or that there isn't anything we can do to affect something already announced (but not yet implemented).

Personally, I believe the grass is a more brilliant shade of green at SPG and Hyatt. While I'm disappointed with my rate of upgrades to suites at SPG (a paltry 24% unprompted), at least I do no worse than at Hilton, and I appreciate the aggressive promotions SPG has offered throughout this year. Hyatt has a phenomenal year end promotion and prior to it I would have never stayed at a Hyatt - now I've got 12 stays and am only one away from top tier status (thanks in part to the stays count double promotion). So Hyatt just earned a bunch of money from me that would have otherwise gone to Hilton to re-secure Diamond for 2010. Not to mention great benefits like free breakfast and Internet, confirmed suite upgrades, and (right now) a whole ton of UA miles and free stays through March 2010.

As it stands, I've got 9 or 10 stays with Hilton YTD. They first lost me due to some dumb*** customer service failures on their part in January (which would have cost them almost nothing to resolve - perhaps $50 in points), and as I pondered returning, I noted with disdain that SPG offered very enticing promos and Hilton offered nothing of particular interest to me. This probable significant points devaluation is all I need to say "adios" to Hilton and get my last 3 SPG stays and 1 Hyatt stay for top tier status with each.

Will they miss me? Not one bit. I'm under no illusions about that, although enough people leave and they'll see a blip on their reports. But I provided incremental revenue for them at typically off-peak times and almost always at the BAR (since my travel is personal and any special rates I might otherwise have access to don't result in benefits overseas). Now that revenue goes to SPG and Hyatt. And I bet there are many others like me.

My experience with Hilton started several years ago because I got a Hilton blue card in the mail (I think from US Airways). Since then they've earned a few thousand dollars from me and I've learned a lot and had some great experiences (think Conrad HK, Conrad Singapore). Despite the great experiences, I've learned enough to know there are better deals with the competition for me (although I will happily recognize that for some/many, Hilton continues to provide value).

To those who stay - good luck and best wishes. ^
To those who go - good luck and don't take my upgrades.