There's good and bad in that. The downside is that it's hard to burn points in Rome, but the upside is that you will definitely not feel like you're in Chain Hotel #921450921 that looks the same everywhere across the globe. Someone upthread or elsewhere (can't remember) mentioned the G-Rough Hotel - it's newer, a Starwood, but I haven't stayed at it. It's right by Piazza Navona, though. It's all suites, which is a plus, but 30k Starpoints per night, which to me isn't a great value vs the ~400EUR nightly rate, which is itself more than I care to spend in Rome knowing there are other great options for half that.

I personally will keep doing short term apartment rentals. Our last time through Rome we had one near the Spanish Steps that I really liked, and I think we'd just rent the same one next time through.