If you (or anyone else for that matter) need to impress your wife with Marriott plat status, you have far greater issues to attend to than the one that is the subject of this thread. I would suggest that anyone in this position spend a little less time haunting the FlyerTalk boards and a little more time with family.

I am, of course, not saying that this is the case with your marriage. In fact, your use of the phrase, "if I wouldn't have," implies that it is not the case. Therefore, in your case, the platinum arrival gift and additional 25% point bonus should suffice to make you whole. If you receive the same 10 elite night compensation that ediemac1 did, I would suggest that it is of greater value than the arrival gift and the (educated guess here) additional 1250 MR points you would earn as a plat on your weekend stay in New York. After all, the 10 nights will help in your march toward the goal of lifetime status, and just think how much that will impress your wife.

If you would prefer the arrival gift and points, I expect that MR could take back the 10 nights and give you 1750 points (1250 plus the 500 point arrival gift). Or if you really need the wine and cheese to make you happy, I guess they could send it via UPS. Having had the wine and cheese, I think you'll be better off with the points, though I guess status cheese may taste better than ordinary cheese. It has that extra bouquet of respect so lacking in common, supermarket cheese.