It's the devaluation in the value of points in an economic environment where demand (and prices) are down that most turns me off. [Raising prices in points even as prices in regular currency have generally plummeted is just a means to rip-off customers.] Just wait until some future industry recovery is used as an excuse for HHonors to further devalue the value of accumulated points by bumping properties into higher categories -- that means to reduce the value of points is coming too. Combine all of that with: Hilton's misinformation about what has happened with HHonors points since 2003; and the relative decline in the value of going from Gold to Diamond. The net result is that my use for Hilton will continue to decline with yet more of my stays being redirected toward Hyatt, Starwood and other brands where the trust factor is higher.

Much like I minimized collecting Zimbabwe dollars these past several years, I will minimize collecting Hilton HHonors points next year unless and until something fundamental changes with the governing of the funny currency-issuer known as Hilton.