I started with Limited Edition (now called Ovation) in December. For me it's a two-step process:
Step 1, deeding my resale points back to Wyndham for no consideration, under what they call the Cap Program. Title Services took 2 months to accomplish that and I'm now rid of those points.
Step 2, deeding my non-resale points back to Wyndham in exchange for use of that number of points, per year, for three years, maintenance-free and dues-free. Strictly speaking Step 2 is the Limited Edition Program, and Cap Program + Limited Edition Program = Ovation.
That's the only offer I'm aware of - - I haven't heard anything about surrendering points for cash. Maybe points for cash is something that's been invented in this thread purely as a hypothetical?
I've now begun the step 2 process and I've been issued a case number. I'm supposed to be getting a letter from the fellow in charge of the program in a week or so. I have his name and direct dial number (he confirmed to me that Limited Edition is part of Ovation) but I won't post it here, since new cases must be started with Owner Assistance anyway before he can take it up.
As far as timing goes, I continue to pay my maintenance fees monthly. (These have been adjusted downward since I no longer own my resale points.) When the Limited Edition/Ovation process finishes (meaning that title services issues the deed, I sign and send back, and title services accepts it), I'll be done paying maintenance and the three-year clock will start for the Limited Edition/Ovation program.
Meanwhile I can book a reservation with my remaining points in the usual manner, but it needs to be for a vacation within the next month or so, since the day they receive my Limited Edition deed all pending bookings will vanish. But if I can fit that final points vacation in, I can use all of my remaining 2015 points for it even though I'm only a couple of months into paying my calendar year 2015 maintenance fees.