I agree with the previous posters, Gold is where the real meat is, but PLT does sometimes have benefits, I have found in the last year as PLT I've been upgraded more often and to a suite on 2 or 3 occasions.

The PLT overide is more difficult to quantify, I know its worked for me twice as I tried later on to book a second room and the website refused as PLT overide already invoked, the only way to be sure if you've got that is to search without revealing your status, then search again after logging in. For all I know I may have used the overide 15 or 20 times this year, or just those two. By memory I did find my hotels unavailable quite often before making PLT and its never happened since, so it could be quite a sizeble benefit. As a matter of interest, one time the PLT overide was triggered I actually received a double upgrade on arrival, bearing in mind its used when the hotel is full, it seemed odd, but VERY welcome. The room (JW in London) was a treat!

I have never needed to invoke the room guarantee, but the message on the confirmation is always reassuring.

I only use the PLT line to book my EEO's (which both Gold and Plt get) simply because thats the only way to redeem them. I've found no difference in speed of response, or annoyingness (is that a real word?) of the system generated messages, so I don't see any real plus there.

The PLT arrival gift can be very welcoming, with some offering a wider choice (JW's especially). As most of my stays are quite short I mostly take the points, adding more than 10,000 to my total!

The extra 2 points per $ (used to be 13 points per $ for PLT but increased to 15 per $) means that the effect of the devaluation has been cancelled out, at least on the points I've earned this year. Before I started this post I felt it was the major benefit, and the rest wasn't worth that much, but I do have to say the whole package of extras is quite good and makes Marriott just that tad bit more attractive than it was. The point is the benefits do actually really help the frequent traveller, so are aimed right... Although free breakfasts at weekends AND in resorts would be a VERY welcome addition, if concierge is lurking!

Lastly, the rollover, a benefit to all members, but like tvetter01 and Jan_az I would concur, the rollover is based upon your status at year end, so if you make PLT on 65 nights (assuming you've been made up on the "rolling year" basis) you'll have no nights to rollover into 2010, but if you end the year on Gold at 65 nights, you'll rollover 15 into 2010. Likewise, if you dont make PLT during the year having done 74 nights, you'll then have 24 nights to start your assault in 2010. I know that Marriott has in the past comped PLT to Golds who get perilously close to PLT, whether that would be so welcome to Golds who'd prefer their rollover to 2010 remains to be seen, especially if they fear they wont make the 50 nights in 2010, but then again the "soft landing" referred to by goldenbear should give them no cause for distress!