I think the value of being Gold in the new Starriott program is just not there - no lounge access, no breakfast, no 4 pm late check out, and having to bet for 2 pm late check out. I often have a hard time to tell the difference between an "enhanced" room and a regular room.

1.My current plan is still to keep the AMEX SPG for another year to see whether the free night certificate is worth anything to me, but have no plan to put any non-Starriott spend on it.
2.Put all bonus spends through CSR and Freedom. The UR points can be then be transferred to Hyatt or airlines.
3.Put the first $15,000 of non-bonus spend through my new AMEX Hilton Ascend card for a free weekend night certificate. That card gives me Hilton Gold automatically, which gives me breakfast and lounge access.
4. Use the remaining non-bonus spend to meet the spend requirements for other new credit cards that I will get in 2019.