The room upgrade and lounge access at Marriott has nothing to do with the rate you paid, and everything to do with your current elite status ( except for those times of absolutely grace when they just do it).

The word "current" is important. As may be the case with Roadrunner, it doesn't really matter how many years you "were" an elite member, or how many points you earned before last year. if you are not elite "now". You have the qualify every year.

There is also confusion about the "gold" category. A few years ago gold was the lowest of the elite levels and was NOT eligible for upgrade and lounge access... Black (50 stays per year) and platinum (75 stays) were. In the new system "gold" is now the middle level, attained at 50 stays. So it all depends on WHEN you stayed as a gold member. If it was before the new system, you weren't eligible and that's why the upgrade wasn't free. At $10 it was, however, a great value.