Originally Posted by lotrbfme

I agree with most thing in you analysis (this is my very personal opinion).
Several thing I disagree in this:

Hilton Aspire - Year 1
Fee - $450
150,000 Points - $750 at 0.5 cents per point NEW BONUS
Free weekend night - Maximum value of 95,000 points (if redeemed for an expensive room), I would pay $300 for a night in a top tier hotel.
$100 Hilton On-Property Credit - (Not gonna use it probably as it requires certain specific rate)
$250 Hilton Resort Credit - Very easy to use since you will use it with the free weekend night to stay two nights or to pay for food etc.
$250 Airline credit - Purchase AA gift cards very easy.
Diamond Status - free lounge access and breakfast at basically all Hilton and the occasional suite upgrade (I have received several)
Earnings - 7% on Hilton Stays, 3.5% on dining and flights, 1.5% on everything else

Year 2
Fee - $450
Everything except for the sign-up bonus

SPG Lux - Year 1
Fee - $450
125,000 Points (I have this targeted offer) - $1,000 at 0.8 cents per point
$300 resort credit - easily usable at all Marriott hotels
Earnings - 4.8% on Marriott stays, 2.4% on Dining and flights, 1.6% on everything else

SPG Lux - Year 2
Fee - $450
Free Anniversary night up to 50,000 Points - Next year new award chart comes and up to 50 means off peak on the nice properties (which cost $200 on the bad season) or peak on the low end properties (which also cost around $200). I would value this at most $100
$300 resort credit - easily usable at all Marriott hotels
Earnings - 4.8% on Marriott stays, 2.4% on Dining and flights, 1.6% on everything else