1. I am not paying - they are getting billed to a corporate card... but I get the points - and I get to pick the hotel
2. The CY is the best option for the circumstances right now - and the current promo helps (on a recent previous trip, I took advantage of the HHonors 2x deal and other bonuses which was nice.....) - the staff are very nice, the place/rooms are clean and quiet - the $10 f/b benefit is not too bad (I have not tried out breakfast as that is not my thing and I cant drink the starbucks....)
3. The other local options are not much better - and the longer commute to work is less than ideal...if there was a huge benefit from staying someplace else to offset the practical aspects of the stay and commute maybe worth considering...
4. Yes, much of this - for better/worse (much like with the airlines) is that the room nights (and airfares - at least for the time being) are very low and hence the point return is also low.....

.... at least the return on the hotel stay is much better than the return that I am getting from being a top-tier member of the car rental company.....but that is another story on a different forum.....