So there are hotel FF-type programs? That I can use any credit card for, and just apply my stay to get points?

You guys are absolutely right, I don't want to maximize my rewards for a net gain of a few dollars a year, but I also don't want to leave money on the table if all it takes is 30 seconds to log into a website, enter my stay, and get free points. That's how easy it seems to be with Delta, AA, and Continental. In fact, when I checkin online, it asks for my FF number so it's not even really that much extra work at all.

I just have to find out if that exists for hotels and how to find out about it.

As far as 100,000 points versus a promotion, it sounds counter-intuitive but I'm better off with the points. I am on income-based repayment on the student loans so for every $1 gain of salary I earn, after state, federal, FICA,phase-out of certain tax deductions, and higher student loan repayment, I only keep about 20 cents on every additional $1 of gross salary. Add that to extra stress of the promotion and more work, and Ill take the points