Which would you rather? (Awards)

As a "really old" retired guy I have to say that you left off what, to me at least, matters most. That is the private (or semi-private) recognition of seniors, peers and subordinates. These examples (of many memories) will suffice. The LCpl in my Ground Defense Platoon who came by the afternoon he was to rotate back home and said, "Sir, I just want you to know, I would follow you anywhere." On being passed over for LtCol (while a student in C&SC, supposedly selected as "promotable") a classmate (infantry officer) said, "I don't care what the board thinks. You know your stuff. If we go to war I want you as my engineer." When selected, the Division C/S personally came to tell me and said, "The real indicator of you as an officer was that you didn't get discouraged, or let down. You know who you are and continued to demonstrate it." Finally shortly after I retired (as the Facility Maintenance Officer while under A-76 review for privatization) I got a note from one of the one of the civilian employees (and just a middle grade foreman). It read, "Colonel, WE WON the BID! Thanks to you. You kept us informed. You listened to us -- all 700 of us. And you told us straight, even when you didn't know what the final answer was. We all thank you." The other options mentioned all matter. I am not dismissing them. But, in the final analysis (now 27 past retirement), these instances and the many others like them are what REALLY matter.

I must be really different. I received all three at some point in my five years and all three were nice. Hands down I liked my letters of appreciation the best. Schools are fun, but unless you get to use it, it was a like a timeshare weekend, they own you during the day listening to the speech, but the nights are yours. I say that having gone to some really fun schools. Awards are shiny, but everything gets condensed to bullet points and sucks the soul out of your achievements, as if they texted in your accomplishments.
A well written letter? The fact that someone felt strongly enough about you and what you did to write a letter. Hell, who writes letters anymore? a well written letter is something you don't have to explain to anyone in any world military or civilian. It's written in English, usually avoids military jargon and acronyms, and typically expresses some sort of emotion.
That always carried more weight with me. Even if no else reads them, I still do. When I reorder my files, pack/unpack them, I stack my green award binders without a glance, but the letters? I pause, open that binder and glance through them.

Recognition that was well thought out, as opposed to check in the box. If that makes sense.

If it's formalized that's cool as well, but it's not a requirement. The note on the door is a great example of a well thought out recognition without any formal trappings (other than letterhead). Coins are another one. I got a coin once from a SgtMaj while I was working at Staples because I helped him get some blank receipts ordered and sent to the EUCOM club. I appreciated that a lot, even though I was just taking care of a customer.

One year I wrote a personal thank you to each of the folks who worked for me. Several became permanent displays in their work areas.

The most surprising recognition I received was from a Deputy Commander. As part of an exercise control staff, I had briefed him daily for about 10 days. Because I provided both status updates and advanced information on the next day's events, the briefings were individual in his office. During our last briefing, he thanked me sincerely and gave me a coin. That meant something.

Got enough bling for two careers now. I'll take the school in a heart beat!

i voted for school as long as medals do not count for promotion points