Get the Ritz-Carlton credit card for automatic Gold status and then immediately do a Platinum challenge. That is how I got Platinum from nothing in less than 60 days.
+1, another Consultant here, I'm not new, but I'm not old.
I have the Ritz and Marriott card and I think you lose out on a ton of value if you completely forgo these cards and stay regularly at Marriotts.
Ritz gets you automatic Gold on sign up and if you have a budget thats already creeping close to the 10k range for hotel stays, its a no brainer in my book because then you dont have to worry about keeping minimal status on an annual basis.
The 395 fee can easily be offset by reimbursement for travel expenses (which have qualifications that a lot of people get around), ritz club level certs and food credits if you would actually consider a ritz as a marriott hotel, the initial points, rental insurance, and lounge access.
If you have absolutely no consideration for staying ritz at any point and dont think keeping up your status is any burden and are willing to wait for a challenge or other way of achieving gold or higher, then It's hard to justify the marriott card since the best part is earning lifetime credits and the cat 1-4 cert.
Lastly, if you aren't using corporate rates, there are other programs you can book through to get similar benefits to elite status in the mean time for certain hotels such as AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts.
I could elaborate on that if you shared what cards you already have and what type of hotels/locations you're planning on staying at.