FWIW, I was the Venetian with some friends 2 weeks ago....30 minutes to check-in there and although the rooms are large (with the "sunken" living room area), it's a 10 minute walk to your room (which is a pain when you're slighty drunk - it's a maze to get to the room), the couch was stained and the carpet was torn in the room.

I was at Bellagio last summer, about a 20 minute check-in time, rooms weren't that spectacular - the pool area is significantly better, but that's a given.

At the end of the day, I really don't believe you get better service or nicer rooms at those hotels. RE: value for the money - it all depends on when you're going & how you define value. Location is better on the Strip if you plan on "living on the Strip" when you're in town, but if you want to visit Red Rock, Valley of Fire, eat at restaurants that aren't costing you an arm & a leg, like Lotus of Siam or gamble at lower minimum table casino, there are off-strip options that are much better.

Haven't stayed at Mirage and have been in the rooms at Wynn - Wynn & Encore do legitimately have great rooms - but I'm not a fan of the 20 minute walk to the rooms at some of these hotels...

Just my 2 cents...