From everything I've gathered it looks like those without status are not given the option to redeem SMs for gift cards at SMMP. When one logs onto SkyMiles Marketplace there is a listing on the left of shopping categories. Below that, for me at least, are two bolded links: Gift Cards and Book a Hotel/Rent a Car.

All the evidence I have gathered from threads about SMMP indicates that if one has no status one does not get the gift card link. I'm not sure if this is also true about the hotel & car option. Also there was some evidence that without status but holding a DL-branded Amex grants one the gift card option. Again, not sure if holding an Amex will affect the hotel & car option.