As far as the 12-year limit goes, I'm fortunate. In the early- to mid-1980s, there was a "refer somebody to Marriott Honored Guest Awards" program. My father was an HGA member, and really wanted the points. He referred me when I was a teenager. It took another decade for me to get my first stay.

I still remember the look on the face of the desk clerk the first time I checked into a Marriott and handed over the ancient red card. It went through without a hitch, even though by any reasonable standard my account was inactive.