On the EEO coupon to stay two nights for the price of one, fine print item #15 says, "This certificate may be booked with any publicly listed room rate." Seems pretty cut-and-dry.

But fine print item #16 says, "This certificate cannot be combined with any other discount rates (except rates mentioned in line item #15), certificates, coupons, Advance Purchase, government, negotiated corporate, or group convention rate for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night stays."

I added the bold section because that's where I think these two items conflict. Aren't government rates (for example) publicly listed? Why the double-speak between these two items in the fine print?

This is true on both the Marriott and the Renaissance coupon, and has in fact been true for as long as I've been getting these offers. I've always wondered but never bothered bringing it up until now that we've got a friendly, efficient Marriott Concierge here at FlyerTalk. Can you please help clarify the issue and maybe affect future printings so that they are not so contradictory?