I am quite disappointed with the member benefits for platinums for some time now. I have totally moved over to *wood and believe you me - their program is far superior than Marriotts. Once you make it to Plat the benefits are really amazing.
Examples:
Suite upgrade at the W Times Square - 90% of the time in the past year
When the hotel is sold out and I invoke my platinum guarantee they give me a room at my corporate rate, not the rack rate
Want to redeem points - no blackout date fine print or different # of points for blackout dates. If a room is available we'll let you have it.
One of the choices for plat amenity is 500 *wood points - equivalent to 1500 MR points

Got to admit though - Marriott bedside chocolates are better than *wood chocolates

So goodbye fellow MR'ers - the grass is definitely greener on this side. With no stays at a Marriott property this year I will be on the bottom rung of the Marriott ladder.
sincere thanks for all your recommendations and help fellow Flyertalkers.