We own resale at AKV and if we decide to buy any direct points, we're leaning toward buying them at AKV instead of Riviera. Here are some of the reasons:
1. Ability to combine the direct points at 11 months with our resale points for reservations at AKV. If we go with a second home resort, we can't combine those points until 7 months out (resale points can never be combined at Riviera and Riviera points can only be combined at 7 months anywhere else).
2. Having 125 direct AKV points would give us enough points to book a 1BR at Riviera (or other future resorts) every 2-3 years at the 7-month mark (despite some thinking Riviera will be hard to get at 7 months, I think it will be much less difficult to get a 1BR). We would have plenty of resale points to use in the intervening years at the other resorts.
3. It doesn't matter which resort the direct points are at to qualify for "perks" and AKV costs less for the same direct benefits (although that savings might be negligible depending on the amount of Riviera incentives).
4. Although AKV contract expires sooner than RIV, the length of the AKV contract is just right for us. We don't want to be saddled with MFs for another 50 years (far too old for that). 35ish more years is plenty.
5. We don't anticipate having to sell (intend to use our points until the contracts expire), but resale restrictions are still a concern. At least if we have to sell our AKV points in the future, even if some of the resorts have expired by then, there are many options for where the points can used vs. ONLY Riviera if we buy there and end up selling.