I can only tell you what I have seen over the last few years and how it's affected us, but this is a general statement about timeshare exchanging and not directly to this issue with SB.
What I started seeing years ago was more internal exchange systems that kept better control over those units managed by specific management companies (Hilton, Sunterra/Diamond Resorts, Wyndham, Bluegreen, Marriott, Westin, Festiva et....). The goal seemed to be to encourage ownership in those groups and limit the availability to exchange in.
Over time I'm begining to see fewer exchange opportunities into resorts that were once very easy to obtain. In the past Westgate was a very easy exchange. Today I did a search for Westgate Branson resorts for Sept. of 2015 and came up empty. This is the first time this has happened since Westgate assumed management of the Grand Vista Resorts in Branson. In fact we just returned from a stay at Westgate Branson Lakes that was booked 13 or 14 months in advance.
Bluegreen's Falls Village in Branson would be another example. Exchanging into Falls Village in Branson use to be a VERY easy exchange. These last few years I've seen almost no availability for that particular resort. It's not a resort we have particluar interest in but, because the Branson area is a drive to destination for us, it's something I've noticed.
I'm not saying that exchanges will not be possible but, I'm seeing resort management companies hold onto inventory longer and, it appears they're using bulk deposits of shoulder season and off season weeks while holding higher season weeks for reservations of their points club members.
I believe we're begining to see a shift where inventory control by management groups allows those in the group better opportunity to reserve within the clubs they own and outside exchange opportunities for higher demand weeks or, more popular resorts will diminish.
Then again it's always tough to discern typical fluctuations in the travel habits of timeshare owners vs industry changes. Hawaii, for instance, became and easy exchange when the economy collapsed. It's since become more difficult but, is that due to inventory management by systems or due to higher demand as the economy has recovered?
I use to say it's best to own what you'll be happy to use. That way if all the doomsday predictions of the sales staff come true you won't be to put out. Now I'm of the opinion you can add to that advice, own in resort systems you're satisfied to travel within.
This has become a minor issue with us as we prefer to travel with our dogs when we can but, the systems we own in don't allow pets. So, I'm still looking at exchange opportunities and watching the inventory for very specific drive to destinations, which is why I notice inventory fluctuations from year to year when it concerns resort week availability for those specific area.
Worse case scenario is that we sell off a couple of our weeks that don't allow pets and purchase resale weeks in resorts we enjoy that do allow pets. But I'm not paying $12,000 to join any sort of points program just to preserve exchange opportunities that I was sold when the original purchase was made. Eventually they'll change this system as well and want even more money 7 or 8 years down the line.