A single data point -- on my recent ANC-SEA flight at least 3 of us in F requested cheese plates from Y instead of the pasta dish that was on the lunch menu. We received the box on our meal trays at the same time everyone else was being served. Cloth napkins & silverware were also on the trays.

I'm 75K and wasn't charged for the meal. I don't recall seeing the FA using the credit card scanner at any time. The other folks were scattered around the cabin, so I have no idea whether they were upgraded elite flyers, traveling on award tickets, or if they were in paid F seats.