I still think this is an attempt to clean up the goofy system they created and they are moving to a system that rewards the AIB nights appropriately.
All of these credit card reward points cost them money to purchase and assign/redeem and they do nothing to increase the loyalty. I think they are figuring out there is a large share of their HHonors membership that are loyal to the program who are not loyal to the hotels.
If that is indeed the end game and I pay a higher premium during the correction period, I am all for it. @:-)