I have yet to find a *wood where I felt like there was any benefit to being Gold other than the late check out and extra points. With one exception -

I stayed at the Westin on Grand Cayman as a Gold. They made a point to acknowledge that they had my Gold status on file and said that they were upgrading me to an ocean view room. (I was staying on a 1/2 award in a garden room)

Even if I didn't get an upgrade it would be nice for every *wood to at least acknowledge that they had my Gold status on file and thank me for my business. Only a few even bother to say that they have my *wood number on file and most seem like they could care less.