The Hilton Amex might be a better choice for you - either the regular Hilton Amex (no fee) or the Hilton Amex Surpass Card. You're guaranteed Silver status just for having the card, and you earn Gold status for $20,000 spend in a calendar year. I'm not sure exactly what the offer for the Surpass Card is these days but I think you get Gold automatically for your first year and thereafter you keep Gold for $20,000 spend and can get Diamond for $40,000 spend. I'm also not sure what the current fee is but it's about $75 per year and they throw in the basic Priority Pass annual membership (free annual membership, worth $99, but you have to pay $25 per person per visit to an airline lounge).

You can accumulate points pretty quickly with the Amex Hilton, through credit card purchases, online shopping through its portal (click through to various internet retailers), Hilton dining, etc, plus good bonuses for using your Amex at Hiltons.

I have both the Marriott and Hilton Surpass Cards and find that the annual fees are worth it in exchange for the benefits. We've had some really nice, free hotel stays at luxury properties in the past year (e.g., 4 nights at Venice Hilton, 4 nights at Luxor Hilton in Egypt, 4 nights in Cairo Marriott, one night at Marriott Rome), plus some good value free stays at lower tier hotels.

Another thing to mention about Hilton vs Marriott status. If you mostly travel on weekends, Gold status with Marriott might not be as useful as Gold status with Hilton because a number of the Marriott Concierge lounges are only open on weekdays. By contrast, with Hilton, even if your Gold status doesn't get you a room on the Exec Floor with lounge access, you always get free breakfast at Hiltons. Overall, I think I've had somewhat better treatment as a Gold at Hilton than at Marriott.