Let me try by beginning to give you a very brief summary:
-you can buy a resale week and use that week to vacation, or trade that week via II for other properties. As of right now, Marriott will not allow resale weeks bought after June of 2010 into their DC points program
-you can buy points directly from Marriott at developer prices These points can be used to book weeks at any of the properties, subject to availability. Unlike owning a deeded week, you are not guaranteed a reservation at any specific property.
-As posted above, Marriott has the right to severely limit the reservation ability of any resale points, making them virtually worthless on the resale market. It is undetermined how they will actually treat resale points purchasers, but until that issue is resolved I wouldn't buy resale points. Furthermore, you have to realize and be able to accept that unless things change you won't be able to resell any points you buy should you need to.
-Resale weeks cannot be traded in for Marriott Reward points. HOWEVER, given the ever increasing maintenance fees, the value of trading in weeks for MR points has diminished over time, and imho does not justify paying thousands and thousands of dollars extra.
My personal recommendation- if there is a place or places that you'd like to go at least half the time, buy a resale week(s) and save yourself A LOT of money. Another option which I'd recommend considering before going out and just buying points is a more recent offer- jut this past week, Marriott started extending the offer that if you buy a resale week through Marriott (now offered at a discount, although still significantly higher than on the resale market) and then buy a certain number of points, Marriott will allow that resale week to join the DC program. Effectively, it would lower your per point cost and give you a deeded week to a location you might enjoy frequenting. Depending on what week you buy, it may significantly lower your maintenance fees as well rather than paying the $.41 per point per year in MF's.
If you give us more information on where you are looking to go and when you can travel, we might be able to give you more appropriate advice.
Good luck, and welcome to Tug!
