In my early days of travel (15 years ago) courtyards were almost always 25% - 40% less than FS Marriotts, and the other option was a Farefield Inn (some of those are really scary) I traveled around the USA and the courtyards were designed to pretty much look the same and offer the same things (Free Internet was added quickly as well) and are meant for people spending 1 -2 nights in the area and moving on. They always had a fitness room with a two old treadmills and maybe something else, and most had a pool and hot pool, but many lower end hotels did not and for me that was important.
After a few years they upgraded the breakfast options, and they are fairly decent even though you have to pay. When you travel out of the USA and learn what breakfast can be the sad bread with holes (assuming they are supposed to be bagels) oatmeal, tasteless fruit, some mystery meat and eggs although free, is not nearly appealing as something else, and the courtyard breakfast is in-line with many corporate per-Diem spending.
Residence Inn upgraded the rooms and expanded to many cities and I much prefer them over the courtyard (However, you get fewer points), they are pretty much the same except you get a kitchenett or kitchen, and now I just go to the store buy steaks and make them on the grill at the Residence Inn. (Springhill suits is a full point options if they are around)
In short:
Advantages of Courtyard:
Less expensive than FS
Overall consistent experience
Offers a decent breakfast option
Disadvantage:
Breakfast is not free
Residence Inns / Springhill Suites in cities are a better brand (Outside of cites they are much more for families, and will have many)