Given the recent changes in many other hotel programs and the relative value of doing two nights in the US at relatively low cost hotels to earn a (as BigLar notes, possibly) free night at a European (and other areas around the world) property, Choice is now my number one program for actual stays at hotels (despite the recent changes, Hilton is still not a bad program to earn points through credit card signups--so long as you're not staying in "aspirational" properties, like the Maldives or Koh Samui).
As with all things, this will change eventually (and there are a number of ways it can), but I am happy to keep riding this horse as long as I can. Given my travels, there's a good chance I can spend about $600 at Choice properties to earn enough points to get four nights at properties in Ireland this summer that would probably cost $1200.
For me, I just aspire to save some money. . .