That's awesome to have friends over there, less cost for the trip with a place to stay!

It depends. Some times it just nice to have a little vacation with your MR, especially if you find a good hotel rate where you're going... I've done MR's that I've literally gotten of the plane, waiting for the turnaround at the gate and gotten back on it to go somwhere else (IAD-MIA-ORD). I got some looks, haha.

The only one I have booked for far is BWI-SEA weekend. Jan 9-11. Upgrades cleared on all segs. already :-D $230.40 a/i which isn't too bad.