That's great advice and that may be something I look at sometime after I've tried the 50 pointer. I may find I want a lot more points at one place but I'm doing what works for me financially for right now without overextending myself. I don't want a loan I can't immediately pay off if something happens and I don't have cash to pay for a larger contract right now. Though I'll take another look at it and check out Lightstream as well.
Vero is simply because when I move to Florida someday it'd be nice to have a nice weekend beach getaway available, planned well in advance of course, and buying direct would get me into the special events, assuming they still allow that at that time.