For many shoppers, the fact that ACL reimburses the charges instead of reversing them, is a bonus. We who like this have opened the rewards credit cards for, say, 2-4 hotel chains. If the charges are reversed, the shopper loses the rewards points associate with paying the credit card charges. Sometime they also lose the points for the stay itself!!
I do as many ACL hotel shops as I can, given rotations. I recently was able to fund my hotel nights in Seattle, for a vacation, and stay with a view of the harbor, using points from ACL shops. My rail bedroom on Amtrak from Seattle to Minneapolis, was paid entirely with Amtrak rewards points, earned doing Amtrak shops (not for ACL) that were reimbursed and also paid nice fees. My August 2018 trip to Maine and back included four rewards points hotel night at very nice hotels enroute. And, the beat goes on and on. I rotate which rewards card I use for groceries, prescriptions, dry cleaning, hair care, fuel, etc. By paying off all the cards in full, every month, I pay no interest. I pay cash for nothing that I could use a rewards card to buy. So, as my rewards status continues to grow, every hotel dollar spent is generating more rewards points per dollar.
Of course, you can do this with other MSC's hotel shops, but for most shoppers, reimbursements are limiting this benefit. Those with MONUMENTAL rewards status for a hotel chain may not miss those points much; but for most shoppers there is a need to weigh the costs and benefit in order to make big rewards.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.