I go with Kathy on this. The HGI's I have been at have been much nicer than many of the Hilton's I have stayed at. They fired the first volley with no additional charge high speed Internet in all of the rooms, Courtyard matched it (or is at least trying as fast as they can).
As far as the rates, I have found many times they are the sames as a HI and if they are more it is ten bucks or so.
IMHO, this is the shining star of the chain right now.