Thank you everyone for your responses, it really puts things in perspective. I use SPG as my main chain and I am absolutely in love with them. I have Hilton for those places where SPG doesn't have any properties.

I think it's too late to do an about face as I don't think I could make top tier in 3 hotel chains in the rest of the year but I may return my business to Marriott after this year even if I only make it up to Gold and just stay at more Starwood properties. I agree that the qualification requirements for Marriott are quite high.