When HH started printing points a couple of years ago like some third-world currency (funny, no one here complained about that ), it would only stand to reason that points inflation would have to occur.

When you tie in some of the promotions, AMEX, double-dip etc, it was easy to get 40 pts. per dollar (or more). With many HH members so flush with points and all wanting to go to Bora Bora, Paris, Rome (or whatever exotic destination is out there) for free, the simple economic laws of supply and demand take over.

I'm sure you could use those points at whatever HI or HGI you earned them.

As for moving, I'm not. I split the bulk of my travel between HH brands and MR brands. MR is a little stinger with the points but the redemption levels cost less, but they too have seen an inflation in points required in the last couple of years.