I was thinking it wasn't, but you are correct. Regardless, even if you take that away I don't see how the SPG is "superior" given the higher earning rate of the Surpass alone, the online booking bonus is gravy, then the ability to earn Diamond may not matter to many because of the high spend required.

As blasphemous as this is here on FT, I think the SPG AMEX is over-rated (though I do myself have one, I'm not saying it's bad, it's just over-rated). The greatest benefit often mentioned is the 5,000 point bonus on transfers to airlines ... personally I have no interest in transferring hotel points to an airline, I have many more airline miles than I do hotel points, that's why I have hotel credit cards!