agree with you Kathryn.....I used up all the points last year on gift cards and bought about $ 5000 worth of stuff which is worth $ 10,000 pre tax so that was good. I am back up to 233,000 points but will hold on to them if we do want to fly. But I am like you, sick of flying by the time I get on vacation and now with 3 kids under 5 years old, no way!!
People that come on and whine they didnt know or got caught last minute trying to redeem dont really get my sympathy.