Don't they still do that? IIRC it was for higher level Diamond Club members and I have no issue with it. Those people had probably spent a few bob with BMI and I don't see what was wrong with them getting a free sandwich.

I was given a (free) sandwich on BMI the other day - not a Diamond club member but was on a J ticket as it was part of a roundtrip, even though the plane was 1 cabin (MAN-LHR). Not sure where that falls in the discrimination stakes.

It's not too different to AC's practice of taking meal orders based on status. It may be discriminatory but ensures AC's best customers aren't ever told "there's none left sir"... a policy very much appreciated by their elites.