Elite status matters far more ex-North America. As a Diamond, I was recently upgraded to exec level rooms in Peru and Hong Kong. An even more recent stay in San Antonio: I got a river view 2 queen room, when I paid for a non-river view 2 queen room. STOP THE PRESSES!!
Bottom line, I like diamond for the non-NA treatment. Hell last year as a gold I got a sweet suite upgrade on a $85 rate in the middle east.
And I have multiple stays from now to year end across the ME and Europe.