Indeed, but all of the free night cert promos, all of their multiplier miles promos when used for Southwest, and all of their flat miles promos (like the 2000 bonus miles per stay of early this yaer) for all airlines, are stay based, not night based.

So since I only stay at Marriott properties (and earn my status) when there's a promo going on, and up to now all I've been offered is iether miles promos or free night cert promos, it hasn't mattered that elite status qualification is night based, since I have to max out the promo at the same time I (re)qualify for status.

Only this upcoming MegaBonus cycle (the one from Sep 15 thru Jan 15) have I, for the first time, been offered a night-based points promo (rather tha a free nigh certs promo). So in September I will for the first time ever do a multi-night (non-award*) Marriott program stay! (And then another, and then another.) But as soon as I go back to miles promos, I'll have to back to hotel hopping. And if the next cycle they give me a free night certs promo again, I'll have to continue with hotel hopping for that!

(*I almost did a two-night award stay, but my plane was delayed a whole day, so I had to cancel the first night. So even though I could "afford" to do a multi-night award stay, and have tried to do one, I haven't even actually done one of those so far.)