Not so fast magiclamp! I did exactly what you did two years ago and haven't looked back. It was my best travel decision of the decade. But you will not be "bottom rung of the Marriott ladder" next year. That's because MR will only drop you one level per year, and that's without asking. I stayed over 100 nights at MR in 2002, since my comp and now earned Plat status at *wood, 4 nights at MR in the last two years. For Plat treatment there is no comparison but like others have said not as many properties in as many cities as MR. See ya over there.