Oh seriously, is that the case?? I really did not know that, maybe because I only ever made a total of 2 redemptions with Melia and didn’t need to change them. So I am very grateful for this information and will be wary in the future. I expected, for no good or apparent reason, that the points would be refunded in the event of cancellation and any change of booking would involve canceling the existing reservation and simply making a new one.

As you said, having reread your OP, maybe this changed in the last 3 years. Worth looking into, I think.