What it ultimately comes down to is that right now, none of three main players (parent company/management companies/owners) have any incentive to change the equation be it for the travelling public or for the employees which is why thing are the way they are and will continue to remain as such. No one is going to be cracking down on anything. At best maybe now that QA audits have resumed, some places may get a few slaps on the wrist but overall it's in Hilton 's interest to keep the fees flowing and you don't do that by having properties change flags or by squeezing owners to spend money they don't want to spend. Sad but true.