I wouldn't to Omaha (no reason to go there) or Cleveland (2 hr drive) - I don't think those make good redemptions.
I agree that only chasing "value" based on ridiculous pricing is pointless. I'd never pay $17K to fly F overseas, so I don't get $17K of "value" from redeeming that flight. My entire family is flying to Australia in MCE in June - 50% of the miles but only 8% of the "value" (really? - $19K in F?). But we now have the mile to go to HKG next summer, or Europe, of the Carribean twice, etc.
I figure out where we want to go on vacation, then the most economical way to get there, then have fun for 7-14 days there, vs. fun on the 3-14 hours in the tube. If I hadn't done that, I'd have run out of miles long ago.