Originally Posted by sbjnyc

Neither are true. You don't need to be a new member to status match to gold. I was previously gold through the old Hyatt platinum tier (via their credit card) and later status matched to gold again via TR diamond status. And in a recent trip to Borgata that they status matched me to gold again from diamond - I had to show a current diamond card but as I hadn't gotten my new cards (and didn't feel like going to Harrahs to get one) I asked if they'd accept the status indicator from the app which they did. That surprised me as I thought the way you did - one status match ever so I asked them and they told me I can always request a status match as long as I have status elsewhere.