Rocketmiles and Southwest: Part 1

I'm a semi frequent traveler for work and personal trips. After years of having points in too many places, I picked Southwest Rapid Rewards as my primary point for reward points consolidation. It has allowed me to earn a companion pass twice, and I'm working on my third now. It also helped me decide to use Marriott properties as my hotel of choice. I always chose a Marriott, and paid with my Southwest Chase card to maximize (or so I thought) my rewards points. I recently found out this cooperation between the 2 companies is about to be no more.
http://thepointsguy.com/2017/01/no-hotel-transfers-for-southwest-companion-pass/

I was in the process of booking a rather expensive trip when I found this information. The trip is before 3/31, but the points would have likely transferred after 3/31. There was now way I was going to not get the potential points on this trip. Time to start researching. I was very disappointed that my Marriott to Southwest points was going away, but I think it led me to a gold mine. Rocketmiles. I'm just getting started, but it looks like a dream come true. I can now earn thousands of points where I used to earn hundreds. I read every source I could find, and I haven't found any legitimate appearing complaints or problems. You book your hotel stay through Rocketmiles, and you get thousands of points. I have not found a downside. I have 2 hotels booked so far.

For my first trip, I am earning 18,000 points. You read that correctly. Almost 18,000 points on a single hotel stay! It is a relatively expensive stay (~$1500), but that is still a ton of points! My last stay in a Marriott earned me 600 Southwest Rapid Rewards points. It doesn't stop there. The rate is cheaper than booking direct! All screenshots and evidence are below. You also still get 2X points for purchasing with your Southwest Chase Visa. This hotel stay on Rocketmiles is $1,497.81. If I were to book it directly, it would be $1,539.68. This may not always be the case, but I'm 2 for 2 so far. I'm earning 20,995 Rapid Rewards points for this including the 2X points for using my Chase Southwest Visa.

I was first disappointed about the Marriott/Southwest issue, but now I am thrilled. I will earn companion pass every year easily. I have read that these points do count towards Companion pass. I will post the evidence once the points have transferred over.

If you are interested, follow this refer link Rocketmiles. It will earn BOTH of us 1000 extra points if you book a hotel.

Now for the evidence to back up up all my claims.
I blacked out the dates simply to not share when I would be out of town.

Update: It all worked, and it DOES count towards Companion Pass. See follow up: http://mktravelpoints.blogspot.com/2017/02/rocketmiles-and-southwest-part-2.html

Crowne Plaza direct - $1,539.68

Same Hotel through Rocketmiles - $1,497.81

Proof of 2X points still earned on Chase Southwest Visa

Previous Marriott NYC trip earning 600 points