I HATE RCI! There's no nice way to put that. We've had two other timeshares that bank with RCI... and there are currently four weeks plus many points on deposit with RCI that have gone unused and will in all likelihood expire before I can find a desirable exchange. RCI has a great catalog of properties with lots of beautiful photos and promises, but they won't let you see what exchanges you can actually make until you've deposited your weeks or points. Then the story changes... DRASTICALLY. You'll try to exchange and see some great large number of exchanges you can make, only to discover that it covers the lodging portion only of an overpriced all-inclusive stay. Or, you will be offered availability at endless numbers of properties in po-dunk USA that you would never even consider visiting. Or, even better, you will be told that they can get what you want if you get on a wait list TWO YEARS (no kidding) in advance...
I wish we had never deposited with them, because once you do, you can never get those points or weeks back. Kiss them goodbye.
The only positive thing I can say about RCI is regarding their "last call" opportunities. You can pick up some steals that way. I've seen great last minute lodging come available for as little as $150/week for a two-bedroom unit. It shoots down any hope of planning ahead for a vacation, and certainly doesn't warrant banking your points with them... but the membership does not require you to have anything banked in order to utilize the last call opportunities. Just don't get curious enough about what exchanges you can make to actually deposit anything, because you'll never get them back and it's unlikely you will be able to trade for something as good or better.
(At this point, hubby is reading over my shoulder and saying, "So, Evey, tell them how you REALLY feel!" LOL!)