Biggest devaluation for me
 

Haven't seen this mentioned by anyone yet... every Hyatt House I have checked for point redemptions for next year no longer have the 1 bdrm suite option for standard rewrd redemptions, everything is either studio suite and some only had accessible studio suite. This is easier to understand if the studio suite and 1 bdrm suite were different prices but sometimes they are even the same price. As a reference point many residence inns and homewood suites have the 1 bdrm suite option for their standard reward redemptions (I would even go so far as to say almost all of them do, especially any that are in the downtown of a major metropolis.

I feel your concern.
Are these locations where you have stayed before?
We've been going to lots of HH this past year, usually to the same one over 6 times, and booking the my elite rate (which is the entry level studio king or accessible room). On ALL our stays we have NEVER been stuck with the studio setup. Always being upgraded to a one bedroom if not higher (when we've traveled with the whole family we've been comp upgraded to 2 bedroom.
I see that you're Diamond and I know that we've been treated VERY well as Diamonds at Hyatt House... booking the base entry level room
I wouldn't be too concerned.
JMHO

These are all Hyatt Houses that I have been to and actually currently hold several point res. for a 1 bdrm suite. Over the years I have been upgraded from 1 bdrm to a 2 bdrm about 25% of the time, which is fine with me as it's not a required upgrade even if there's lots of availability. I just foresee that trying to go from a studio to a 2 bdrm will be all that much harder. Also, I am not guaranteed to have even a 1 bdrm, it's now a favor I need to request (kind of like I have to beg for a late checkout at many hyatt houses). Not having that extra privacy/ ability to keep lights on when traveling with a kid is a major loss for me. Without any doubt I will take a 1 bdrm suite at a residence inn for 15k points over a studio suite at a hyatt house for 5k points despite the fact that I like almost every hyatt house 3x better than the closest residence inn to it.

Is Hyatt House an exception from the Hyatt guaranteed 4 pm checkout for Diamonds?

No, I have gotten it without issue at several properties.

I've never had a problem w/ getting one bedroom vs. studio king. I'd suggest double booking residence & hyatt house and then call up prior and request... usually they are quite accomodating.
I've NEVER had a problem with the 4PM late checkout. Only problem I've had was with the keys needing to be redone after 12 noon.
YMMV tho

My biggest issues at getting 4 pm checkouts come up at hyatt places and hyatt houses, almost never at hyatts.
With the new cancellation policy at Marriott, double booking won't always be advisable as many hotels don't really determine the room allocations until very close to arrival.
I alsonthing this is a major devaluation. Particularly when hotels will sell out and you will be stuck with a studio as well as all the time for non status members and even platinums who may have a very hard time switching to a 1 bdrm. It would've been nice to get some warning b/f slashing this perk.

+ 1

I've never run into an exception for Hyatt with Diamond 4pm check out.

Resorts are the exception - on availability basis.

And at the casino locations..... some of the "exceptions" also never grant you a late checkout after 14:00. Not that big a deal for most, but sometimes it can be nice to have your room a little longer.

just noticed this
 

On suite upgrade page, note 3
"Award applies to accommodations in the room type category immediately above standard room at Hyatt House."
This used to say 2 bdrm suite. Boy they really snuck this one in.

See here:

http://www.hyatt.com/gp/en/awards/hyatt_upgrade.jsp

So a Hyatt House 1br suite that used to cost 8,000 points is now 14,000 points. That's a major stealth devaluation.

Yep. And it's impossible to reserve a 2 bdrm suite. Come summer time some people making res. for their families may be very disappointed.
Most people here are probably business travelers who rarely stay at Hyatt Houses and when they do could care less about studio vs 1 bdrm vs 2 bdrm. Most of the people booking family vacations probably aren't aware of all the program details to begin with. But for myself and I imagine quite a few others this is a really big loss. I really love Hyatt Houses for my family stays, and there are many such stays. And getting a 1 bdrm suite at a standard reward level almost always made all the difference in deciding where to stay.

not happy
 

After reading this I just checked my favorite Hyatt House and sure enough one can only book a studio room on points. Really blows.