Gold has long been attainable with credit cards, other fast track offers, etc. However, it is rarely if ever possible to maintain Gold from fast track offers. I have been denied Diamond challenges because once I did a Gold fast track.

Letting people taste status is a perfectly valid way to drum up new business. Maybe most don't stick around, but a few will.

Too many people chasing upgrades? What upgrades? As a Diamond I'm rather bored of being upgraded into "executive" rooms that are the exact same size as normal rooms, but come with executive lounge access that I'm already due. Maybe it's better to be Gold and then be happy with the occasional upgrade to an executive room.

HHonors status is free breakfast and not much more. A poor return for 40 or 60 nights a year...