Apart from Gold buyback, I agree with you, Sharon, buyback is pretty "meh" at the points offered.

Although 7,500 points sounds cheap for silver, silvers not worth much more than the 20% (2 points per $) extra points and since you get silver after 10 nights you'd need to be spending over $375/nt to recoup the cost before the status kicks back in.

Plat at 40,000 is a lot of points. Since the main benefits of plat are welcome points and an extra 25% (2.5 points per $ over Gold) there's no value for the $100/nt SHS/FFI/RI/TPS guest with their low welcome points and in the case of RI/TPS half pointearning ratios. However a FS/CY regular staying $150/nt one-nighters would see their buyback paying dividends after 45/50 nights. Of course if they have no chance of making Plat the proper way then they'll only have a few nights to accumulate their profits. For most FS/CY 1-night-stay regulars paying $300+/nt it's well worthwhile. I suspect there's few of them though.

It's Gold at 25,000 points that's the clear bargain here for a FS stayer that enjoys lounge and breakfast. Since most concierge access rooms are at least $25/nt extra and taking the view that a Marriott point is worth a cent the 25,000 buyback points are worth $250, so the buyback investment is repaid in 10 nights. Inescapably great value!