What's the Deal With Timeshares?

We went to Carmel this weekend. We stayed at the Highlands Inn as we were invited by the Hyatt to come at a large discount, listen to a presentation and receive a gift certificate for $100 good for meals at the hotel. We decided to try it. We have friends who tell us we are crazy not to take EVERY offer of a time share boondoggle. They say we should take the "free" trips and have a good time, afterall, you are not forced to purchase. We've never done it because it didn't seem right. However, we are fans of the Hyatt in Kauai and if buying a timeshare here can get us there more often, well SIGN US UP!

We drove to Carmel in an absolute downpour. But of all the places to be during a storm, the pacific coast is a darn good one. We arrive, it is lovely as promised. We check in, they assign us a room and a man to take us there. When he opens the door, we are puzzled... this isn't a timeshare condo. He confirms that and heads out. We call the front desk...
us: there must be a problem,
them: no there is not a timeshare room available,
us: can we change rooms,
them: no we can't move you,
us: but we don't have an ocean view unless we are standing in the closet,
them: well that is a view of the ocean then isn't it?
us: wow.

Now we are pissed off. We can't leave because if we don't sit through the presentation we get charged full price for the room for 2 nights. The hotel says they don't have any control over the timeshare rooms and the timeshare folks don't have anything to do with the hotel. So what are you going to do?

We got drunk and spent a wad on food. Why, what would you have done?