I posted an opinion of mine in the SPG C&P thread that applies here too. Basically, it's too easy to find a pretty good place to sleep at a very reasonable or even downright cheap rate. It's next to impossible to find a pretty good business or first class seat at reasonable rates (when compared to Y) because the choices are fewer.

Sure you may get a dud when staying at a less expensive place but hopefully with enough research, you can minimize that happening. And who knows, you may end up having a better experience than at one of the big hotel chains. You are most definitely not going to have a better experience sitting in a coach seat instead of a business seat if that's an analogy to sleeping in a cheaper place with cash.