You do have to jump on the good stuff PDQ, especially when it's "on sale" like before Christmas. I got four gift cards that day and a couple of 12-pack coupons a week or so later.
I was putting in a few codes today and it gave me the potholder as a suggestion. I paid fewer points for a $25 gift card in November. Even today, I could have gotten FOUR magazine subscriptions for 550 points.