The whole thing, at least to me, revolves around airlines & hotels wanting to have their cake and eat it too; they want to cut their overhead by selling directly to the public online, yet don't want to be held responsible when their own technology is at fault.
Perfect example just posted (not Marriott, but another chain involved in a recent rate issue):
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=555634
The poster is also a high level IHG elite...
It's why I do what I do
Pat