I'm not sure why you mentioned the SPG Amex with airline miles. Even if you could never redeem an airline mile (more on that in a minute), you can always redeem Starpoints for hotel rooms. And if you redeem 10K for a room that, with tax, is $300/night, your redemption value is at leat 3 cents/point.

As for not being able to redeem awards ... I just did what many here might say is impossible - four awards tickets to Hawaii in high season.

The bottom line is that you just have to keep trying.