Here are the parameters that are important when making this choice, but I'm not going to try to argue which is more important since I'm different than others in what I value.
1. Foot print of the resort in terms of size and proximity to the ocean
2. Location on the island in terms of being close to a lot of activity/shops/restaurants.....or not
3. Villa interior
4. Other views (not ocean views) if that matters
5. Golf included
Here's my take:
Grande Ocean - big foot print, on the ocean, can walk/bike to many shops and restaurant, free Seapines pass for car and bike, villas somewhat dated, interesting interior views, no golf
Barony - smaller foot print, on the ocean, garden view across a parking lot, restaurant at the Westin or Port Royal golf club, no shops nearby, in residential community, villas are awesome, other views okay, no golf
Surfwatch - huge foot print, ocean access, but nothing is really close to the sand, like Barony, in a residential area, no shops and restaurants really close, nice and big villas, interesting views, no golf
Monarch - small footprint on ocean, next to good restaurant, bike to Harbor Town and other shops and restaurants, very busy/crowded area in summer, villas are old, but updated, no interesting views, no golf
Harbor Club - in Harbor Town, near many restaurants and shops, summer trolley to beach club, big villas, good refurb, but nothing fancy, some units have awesome views of the sound, no golf
Heritage Club - very small footprint next to other condos, across from golf club at Harbor Town, walking distance to shops and restaurants, units updated, but small, views are non existent, golf included
Harbor Point/Sunset Point - small footprint, in area with other condos, walking distance to grocery stores, shops, restaurants, some have great views of the sound, units are all different sizes, some very small, no golf
What I find crazy is that the amount of Vacation Club points swings wildly with these properties. GO, Barony, Surfwatch are so much more than Monarch, and then the two in Harbor Town are much less and the ones on Broad Creek are very much less still. Great bargains can be had in the off season with Harbor/Sunset when you don't care about the beach so much. Same with the ones in Harbor Town.