Hyatt is just too rare where I go in the USA, and the properties are very expensive for those of us who pay our own way.

I'm mainly Hilton, though I get Diamond from AmEx Surpass spend regardless of stays. So I went out and picked up a SPG AmEx. Now I've spent enough on that to get SPG Gold, so that's my backup status chain.

I agree that SPG has fewer affordable hotels (it's hard to compete with Hilton's "Hampton in every town" strategy!) but you can often find an affordable night. Plus, as pointed out, the redemption options are much more enticing than Choice or IHG. And I dislike Courtyards, so there's that.

I was considering using Radisson as a backup status chain since they're affordable domestically, have great international aspirational properties for redemption, and offer a crazy-good credit card bonus. But the SJC Radisson is switching to Starwood, so I've given up that idea. So, SPG!