Originally Posted by
Troopers
But that's not what the website says:
Yes it is. Neither quote says you become a Marriott Gold member. The first quote makes it clear that when you status match you can, "enjoy the benefits" of Marriott Gold. The second just clarifies who is eligible to enjoy the benefits. There is a big difference between actually getting MR status and enjoying the benefits because you have SPG status. Sorry if you read what you wanted to be there instead of what was actually there, but MR obviously wrote it in a way for you to believe what was not there.
And, of course, David Flueck has made this point very clear in the new video.