All great points (pun intended). Points programs, I have always maintained, are simply a component of an overall loyalty strategy...which is all about the consumer experience and is/should be different by brand and industry. Retailers who have point programs have always baffled me. Points are only an effective motivator if enough can be earned, in a short enough amount of time, to offer some reasonable value...most retailers don't offer that sort of frequency. That's why credit card programs have been effective...people can earn enough points to actually get something with them. It will be interesting to watch this evolve by industry...thanks for sharing.