So, after recontacting customer service by both e-mail through the website and a call (including a supervisor) am told that if the GM wants to give me the points, he can buy them but I have to contact him myself. Absolutely useless customer service here.

The good news is that I can vote with my dollars.... I've already cancelled 43 nights that I had booked in 2008 (I actually made the supervisor do it while on the phone with her ) and rebooked with Hilton. Can't say that I won't continue to use Marriott because of convenience, but there are choices and since MR apparently have made theirs, so too have I.

Everybody have a great holiday! The Mrs. and I are off to use the original MR award in San Juan.