Clearly you’re not going to be persuaded that anything in SF can top the StR. So be it. Let’s agree that the StR is the top Starriott pick.
IMHO, the public areas (lobby, bar / lounge, restaurant) in the FS lap the StR in every respect. And I stand by my comment that the StR rooms feel like gussied up W rooms (not saying that for all StR, just the one we’re discussing).
The Palace is, well, a historic curiosity that needs a top to bottom gut down to the studs. The staff, however, can be very special there. Or incompetent. Had ‘em both.
If I had to pick one regardless of price, points, travel policy, etc., it would be the FS every time.