Thanks for the info craz.
I did not stay at any marriotts in 2006, so the early Gold upgrade was a freebie. But it sounds like I shouldn't count on getting another freebie to Platinum.
I ended up getting the regulart MR CC (not the premier) - at the time, I thought I was going to get platinum on my own. and I didn't want to pay the more expensive fee.
Get the Signature card.
It pays for itself with the free 1 night a year certificate.
And at 18 points per dollar it cant be beat.