So true except for those staying at Marriott so infrequently that they don't even qualify for Silver as it would take them many years to gain enough points to matter. Of course for the most part those types of people are just not found here on FT.

Below is my analysis (revised form my previous posting which may be found using the search feature) and recommendation for anyone with Silver status or above, or for those who think they may reach Silver status or above in the next few years:

I came to the conclusion many years ago that earning miles through Marriott rewards was not the best return on my money spent. For example:

If I earn miles and have spent $20000 at full service Marriotts over the past 1, 2, or more years then I would have earned 40,000 miles in my favorite US airline program (excluding AA) and 1 mile per dollar charged, or an additional 20,000 miles, assuming one has a mileage earning CC in the same program. Total of 60,000 miles. BTW, at other Marriott properties like Courtyard, SHS, and FFI you only earn 1 mile per dollar spent.

If on the other hand I had chosen points I would have earned 400,000 Marriott Reward points ($20000 x 10=200,000 + 50% Platinum bonus 100,000 + 5 points per dollar spent for using MR Premier VISA 100,000). Less if one is Gold or Silver elite. Also most bonus promotions only apply to those who have chosen to earn points, like the current Megabonus promo and those of previous years. So potentially another 100,000 points. But even not counting those bonus points, for the 400,000 points I can get a week at a category 6 hotel, plus 120,000 miles in my favorite US major airline frequent flyer program by cashing in a 300,000 points for a travel package and I would still have 100,000 MR points left over. Since a week at a Category 6 usually runs 180,000 points, that means I just swapped 120,000 (300,000 points for travel package less 180,000 points for the free week award) MR points for 120,000 UA miles (in my case since you can't exchange to AA miles anymore, but it could be US, DL, etc), a 1 for 1 exchange.

So reducing this to comparable currency:

Choosing to earn Marriott Reward points translates to:Choosing miles translates to:My recommendation is to make your earning preference points, the rate of return is much better.