Originally Posted by
r415
The other consideration here is how lifetime status will be handled in the combined program. MR Lifetime status currently has a point requirement. Will they just convert over every Starpoint you've ever earned at 3:1 for this calculation in the new program, or will they look at your current balance in each program separately? If the latter, there may be benefits to converting or not converting that need to be taken into account as well.
Transferring points from SPG to MR does NOT change lifetime MR points, so it should make no difference when you convert. Either Marriott honors their commitment to lifetime SPG points or status by 2018 or they don't.