Here are the bottom lines for me (In addition to Kimpton IC, I'm Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Club Carlson Gold, and Marriott Silver):

1. Kimpton reward nights are not searchable online. That is inconvenient, especially with limited phone center hours. This is certainly lagging in technology compared to the competition.
2. The reward nights do not offer last room availability. Others have pointed this out already. I've benefited from the last room availability with Hyatt, Marriott, and Carlson myself. Also lagging compared to competition.

Those two factors have led me to booking Marriott and Hyatt stays, either reward or revenue, on nights when Kimpton had revenue rooms, but not reward availability. It is what it is.

The Kimpton system was great with few elites and a limited fan base. They are now more popular because of good press (well deserved, frankly), status matches, and a better economy. Perhaps the reward night system is overloaded. Will they change it? I hope they do. If they don't, I'll just spend more nights at Hyatt.