Thanks for the heads up.
Of course there is still plenty of wiggle room from the wording found at your link:
...subject to availability identified by each hotel.
See terms and conditions for details.
Details from terms and conditions:
Complimentary Room Upgrade: Based on room availability at check-in and limited to a Member's personal guestroom. Upgrades may include rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities, rooms on Executive Floors, or suites. All upgrades are granted on a space-available basis, as determined at the time of check-in. Upgrades are subject to availability and identified by each hotel. Not available at Marriott Vacation Club.
For participating Ritz-Carlton hotels:
Free Room Upgrade: Club Level and Suites not included. Based on room availability at check-in and limited to a Member's personal guestroom
I read this as not much changing. Hotels can still withhold suites under this wording if they have identified them as potential sales.
Personally I will patronize properties I have been given good upgrades, or identified from posts here on FT as giving good upgrades (if I have not stayed there). My days of whining about upgrades at check-in ended about 10-12 years ago after my first year or two of being Plat. I kind of feel the same about the boring Costco appetizers and cold eggs served in NA EL/CL. Not worth the energy to complain about.