I was lairy about mixing points with paid stays at Marriott for a long time because a HH friend (yes, I'm ashamed, but what can I say, his boss has no taste, or appreciation of value!) told me he didn't get points in these stays. I just assumed it was one of those universal rules, like the rule that redemption nights didn't count for status, and they didn't in those days! Then one day I tacked an extra couple of advance purchase nights onto a redemption stay without thinking and nearer the trip when I realised what I'd done started kicking myself. The points however credited fine and I've done it many times since, in fact I have a couple of nights tagged onto a redemption week at Miami Beach very soon.