Trust me...You don't want to envy people with status...It looks like it provides you with excellent benefits...But the benefits are almost always overshadowed by things you give up in life.

Friends, family, your bed at home...And the list goes on.

You say you value good service....I think a lot of people who attain status value good service, which is what usually brings them back to a particular brand name, they come to expect a certain level of service (and as you could probably tell, they don't always receive their expected service which causes complaints). My strategy is to pick a brand I'm happy with (without having status) and stick with it...I've been happy with Marriott, I've been happy with Hertz (more so than Avis) and I have been somewhat happy with United, although I have not tried other airlines. I feel I receive acceptable and sometimes excellent service so I continue with going to the same brands.

As for your questions of keeping your lust in check...It really depends on what your company's policies are. Some will provide a ceiling on prices, others will have preferred properties. Follow your gut instinct on what your company will find accepable.