See similar discussions underway in the Hilton forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/001222.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/000962.html
I personally believe that these elite comps are just an indication that the emphasis of many frequent flyer/stay programs is shifting from rewarding loyalty to attracting new customers.
[This message has been edited by cactuspete (edited 02-16-2001).]