I wouldn't use "complaints about the décor" to base a purchase on. One man's complaint is another's dream. If you're going to buy there I'd really have stayed there first. We bought in, but we've been staying in the Poly and Contemporary our whole life, so we knew what we wanted.
You seem to have nailed some of the Poly perks... more for the kids and easy access to the parks, but to us it goes beyond that. It's just our place. It's comfortable. It's an oasis amid the chaos of Disney World, and it's got that access to both Epcot and the Magic Kingdom. It has the beaches, Ohana, Luau, Trader Sams, walking distance to the amenities at the Grand... Best themed pool and slide, new kid play area... and not cheap, it's got several slides, bridges, hidden tunnels, etc. We haven't stayed at the WL, but we've been over that way lots... Great theming that comes close to the Poly, but a smidge less, since the tropical feel is more what we want in a vacation than the wilderness feel. You can't beat the room choices tho... CCV has the best when it comes to rooms... They fixed everything I found unattractive about BRV. You're in the main building with many room options to pick from, from Studio all the way up to Cabin. We would buy here if it wasn't for the darn access. When we stay Deluxe, we want to be in the Contemporary, Poly, or Grand. The monorail... Although it's not much faster than a bus, it's part of the experience. And the GF/Poly boats make that loop fast. The WL boats build huge lines and take 20 min each way. We've waited over an hour to get onto a boat home from things like the BYBBQ and HDDR.
Then you mentioned the AK... You really have to try these out and not be booking them from the promotional material. The AK sells really well in photos since they can snap images during that moment when the savannah is filled with animals... The pools here are a long walk, and you are far, far, far from everything else in WDW. You are busing or driving everywhere when you stay at the AK. Great unique dining options, but they're not as repeatable for us as Ohana and Chef Mickeys. You've really got to experience just how far the AK is from everything. Even driving there is a pain and takes a while to get into their underground parking.
I would say you're not in an ideal situation to buy, since you don't seem to have stayed in these places, nor developed a love for any one of them. For us, we've stayed in them lots, so we knew... close proximity to the MK, with monorail access to put us in the center of the action. When we check in to vacation we want to put our car behind us and live off the system. So BLT it is! And we know that every few years we can save enough points to stay in a Bungalow so getting more points cheaper was the way to go.
We have 4 kids too... so consider Poly out. Unfortunate but true. I guess you could do dual-studios, but we want to be in one room. It's the gathering aspect of vacations. Buy somewhere that has a 2B option so you have the choice. Don't overlook BLT. It is the only resort from which you can walk to the MK, and walk to the MK bus stop which will take you anywhere you want to go.
The 40 vs 50 years is irrelevant. Look at your up front spend, then do the math on dues, figuring what your total life spend will be on dues. Add in 3-5% increase each year, and sum it up. You'll see the dues are way more than the up front costs. In that regard, a 40 year contract means enjoy WDW for 40 years without having to pay dues into your old age. And in 40 years, your kids will be in their 40's so if they are interested in carrying on the Disney trips, they will have had the opportunity to buy their own of whatever is the up and coming thing in 40 years. So the extra 10 years don't play in at all to us.
Hope that helps!
Bill
