Their Niche market? When there's no other Marriott properties around. There's a Hampton in down the street from my CY this week, but I truly don't care about their (crappy) free breakfast, uncomfortable beds and SkyPeso like points system. Courtyard's are not my first choice (and certainly not my last). Sometimes you just (to quote DLR) "have to roll with the punches and get to what's real". I don't want an hour drive every morning and afternoon just to have a hotel that's a shade better.