I appreciate reading the diversity of responses. There were a couple folks who possess an internal mechanism that keeps them from exercising
"exchange gluttony", and I applaud them for that. I did notice that a number of folks' reasoning revolves around the
utility of booking 2BRs over 1BRs without addressing the
ethics of doing so under specific circumstances. A few folks pulled no punches with a
de facto "eff 'em" response. In either of those cases, it is evident that the underlying sentiment is one of self-service. Most do not feel any
civic responsibility to care about their fellow travelers under any circumstance.
Honestly, I don't have an active beef with this
self-serving, consumerist approach to exchanging. But I do see a
certain nobility to the self-restraint exercised by some, whether it stems from a sense of civic responsibility or
puritanical guilt toward over-consumption. A few more thoughts:
(a) I agree that there are a million different good reasons for up-trading. I might well do so if given the opportunity.
(b) Although it would definitely be noble for a 2BR owner to exchange down for a 1BR and be compensated with an AC if s/he does not require that extra bedroom for the planned trip, it is difficult to begrudge someone a like-for-like exchange, regardless of the size of their traveling party. They own a 2BR, pay MF on a 2BR, and are entitled to a 2BR in exchange.
(c) In areas that are over-supplied, under-demanded, or off-season, the ethics of up-trading are moot for the most part. Their is no one who is harmed in these scenarios. Everyone gets the vacation they want, and no one is left out.
(d) Provided that it is clear that I am primarily only debating scenarios where demand is expected to outstrip supply, I view this topic somewhat similar to how I feel about the procurement of supplies in times of emergency. Although a particular store may permit me to hoard more batteries and water than I could ever personally use for the emergency at hand, it's probably not the most responsible thing for me to do given that my actions may well create shortages for those who come after me. On the other hand, it may be more effective for that store to either ration those supplies or charge a premium for quantities that exceed some certain amount, thereby forcibly resolving that ethical dilemma for me. Either the consumer cannot have above a certain amount or they will need to pay more above a certain amount, forcing the consumer to calculate their own marginal utility of procuring more than they need.
With respect to exchanges, If I have a ST/1BR and am systematically able to secure a 2BR, I would be an advocate that the system be modified to disincentivize that practice or manipulate behavior (e.g, charge premiums for up-trades above 1BR for certain resorts, locations, and/or time periods) if that would help to more "equitably" allocate inventory among the customer base. If the exchange companies tacked on some sort of premium for up-trading bedrooms, I would not be opposed to it...although my TUG log-on might immediately stop working if that were to happen.