I was at the Boston Logan Hilton recently and got access to the Executive Lounge as a Diamond. I had two glasses of Chardonnay and was charged $16 per glass if I remember correctly (retail value of the bottle is less than $10).

If I had gone to the public on-site restaurant instead I could have gotten a dinner along with those two glasses of wine for similar cost. In a Marriott lounge the wine would have cost half and in an SPG lounge it would have been complimentary.

What am I missing? Why should I re-qualify as a Diamond if there is little benefit from getting lounge access ?