Originally Posted by
HHonors OUTSIDER
If and when a combined program is introduced in 2020 or later (hopefully never) they will add the previous year SPG nights with the MR nights to determine your status in the new and hopefully improved program.
Ha! Wishful thinking on the never part, likely even the 2020 part.
Your solution does seem one of the obvious choices available to Marriott, but it would likely contribute to elite bloat, no? And that's got to be a concern for them, esp given that a first combined year disaster (e.g. massively overcrowded lounges) could have a truly lasting impact on the combined brand...