We have stayed here twice, both of reward stays: 09/02 and 03/09.

1) Service is just fine. The beach guys are good about getting umbrellas out and the servers need beach/pool are fine - though you sometimes need to wave them down. We did not eat in the restaurants at all. There is too much else close by.

2) No idea. We usually drove (or you could walk) to a local pastry shop down the street.

3) Plenty of places near by. Reasonable is a relative term in Grand Cayman. It depends on what you usually eat and whether you want surf and turf every night. A great place for a inexpensive lunch is al-kebab: http://www.kebab.ky/
We would get it to go, and then head out to wherever we were going (or coming back from).

4) Beach can not be compared between 02 and 09. It it is very good and make sure to bring snorkelling equipment (or buy it in the gift shop). It is cheaper to buy rather than rent if you do it more than once and the reef balls make it a great place to snorkel whenever you want.

5) Avoid. Too many good restaurants on island to eat on property.

6) Dont believe so.

7) Doubt it. I was platinum (albeit on rewards) and go upgraded to a garden view (which faces inward towards the gardens) in 09. In 02, it was Sept and got an ocean front, but it was due to the time of the year. This hotel does not have many ocean front rooms and therefore they get sold. And the ocean view rooms are obstructed by other hotels on either side. If it was me, I would choose and inward facing room. You may have different result if paying for room.

Again, Grand Cayman is expensive so be warned...I would also recommend renting a car for a couple of days. Andys is directly across the street and driving in GCM is easy.

Cheers.