Welcome to Flyertalk. BaylorBear. You didn't ramble hardly at all.

It's not true that most or all airlines are honoring each others' frequent-flyer programs; that would defeat the whole point, as FF programs are supposed to build and reward loyalty to a specific airline or airline group.

There is instead a short list of major alliances which are in some flux at the moment. You have to keep track.

If you're planning a mass airlift IAH-Hawaii and want to earn CO miles, you can fly on CO or NW. If you fly UA, you can earn UA or DL miles (although the DL arrangement may not last much longer, because they've announced their intent to ally with CO and NW instead).

You can also go IAH-DFW-HNL on AA -- and earn AA or BA miles.