Why are you blaming the hotel for FOLLOWING the IHG BRG rules??? If you read the extensive BRG thread on FT, you will see that the rate and room category have to be IDENTICAL in order to get the BRG to apply. You booked a nonrefundable rate with no breakfast. You found a lower nonrefundable rate that includes breakfast. That is not an identical rate category - one includes breakfast and one does not. While the benefit would be in the hotel's favor in this instance, it could very well be the opposite in a different situation and they won't want to open a can of worms by judging which rates include tangential benefits that should or should not be considered.