Last year, I acquired Starwood (SPG) Gold through staying a bunch of nights at SPG properties. When I linked my account with Marriott, I was comped to Marriott Gold, which provides a series of very handy perks including lounge access & free breakfast at most hotels. Yay!
But recently, I merged my Marriott & SPG accounts, ending up with the new Marriott Gold Elite as a result. However, it appears that Gold Elite does not include lounge/breakfast, and I would need hit Platinum for that.
So my question: did I just foolishly sign away my old Gold perks? Or is there a grace period during which the old legacy benefits still apply?