Bob,
We used to stay at the Plaza. At the end of the day I LOVED sitting at the window and looking down Fremont Street. The FSE obliterated that.

One time we stayed at the Vegas Club, and (like you) were plesantly surprised at the rooms, but the view of the California Hotel's wall wasn't too impressive. Then I hit a jackpot, which earned us free nights. We happened to get a room that was positioned so you could look out kind of over the strip (a ways away), you can see the Rio, and out over that section of the valley. Now we always try to get rooms 1133 or 1135, (or 933, 935, 1033, 1035). The FSE shows are a little noisy, and it's not quite as nice a view as from the Plaza before the FSE, but it's become my new "favorite view".