I think that shows the wide gulf between people who think luxury is getting more for free and/or a nicer or more spacious version of what they already know...and others who think luxury is an excellent higher grade product delivered with excellent service and personalization. To each, their own.

I’m now at the Ritz Carlton San Francisco. I got moved to an upgraded Club level room for my next 2 nights after an air con mishap the first night. I’ve never been a fan of lounges or the RC Club because I don’t like lounge food and certainly don’t think of it as a luxury food/beverage experience. Given this first ever opportunity to freely explore the RC Club, I had both breakfast and lunch there yesterday. I wasn’t impressed; it smacked of just being a very nice lounge/cafeteria, but didn’t offer even close to a luxury meal IMO.

Despite having the RC Club available to me today, I instead ordered and paid for room service breakfast and lunch today. I’m more than happy to pay for what I want rather than take what is given for free in the Club.

FWIW, my nightly rate is $549–pretty good for a 5* hotel in San Francisco. And all the staff still call me Mr., despite this not being the St Regis.