I don't think the programs are comparable.

HHonors is better if you have to travel to small towns. Hampton Inn's have excellent market penetration into all but the smallers markets that no Marriott brand can match. Marriott's properties on the other hand are just more consistent. That means they are in my experience fewer bad apple properties at Marriott than in the HHonors family.

One other point is promotions which are important for average Flyertalk reader who likely a miles/points addict. Marriott again is more consistent with no lists of opt outs (or worse for the HHonors airline promotions only a short list of properties that participate, but hey you can double dip with HHonors airline promotions something you can't with Marriott) for their promotions. The final consideration, which others have raised is that Hilton gives out their Gold status like candy so like me on a recent stay you will get the published benefits but not the upgrade. While I've never been Marriott Gold, as I understand from people who are it's not given away and thus when you are Gold you are far more likely to get the upgrade.