You are remembering correctly. If you go far enough back in the old Marriott Rewards program, at non-resort properties of several brands (including the signature Marriott Hotels brand), higher-level elites could choose a welcome gift from a list of options, such as wine & cheese, premium ice cream, or Rewards points. In addition, those members also had lounge access for breakfast and evening hors d'oeuvres -- in addition to the welcome gift. If there was a lounge, then restaurant breakfasts were not an elite benefit (expect at hotels that went above and beyond). On the other hand, on a weekday, if there was no lounge or it was closed, those members received breakfast in the restaurant, but nothing in the evening (except at hotels that went above and beyond). On weekends, lounges were usually closed, and there was no alternative.
Beginning in 2013, the old Marriott Rewards program eliminated welcome gift amenities such as wine, beer, and ice cream. It replaced them with a choice of points or a $10 USD F&B credit per stay (not per day). The lounge/breakfast benefit was extended to 7 days per week. See
https://loyaltylobby.com/2013/05/23/...10-fb-voucher/
In the old SPG program, daily breakfast in the restaurant was a welcome gift choice for higher-level elites at most brands. It was one of several choices. If the member picked breakfast, then there was no other welcome gift (expect at hotels that went above and beyond). In addition, at a few brands, those members had lounge access, but with no alternative if there was no lounge or it was closed.
When Marriott and Starwood merged, the combined company had two different loyalty programs with two different ways of handling welcome gifts, lounge access, and restaurant breakfast for higher-level elites. Unlike airline mergers, where the combined airline can easily impose a single new loyalty program, Marriott had to deal with thousands of franchise agreements that specified the old program details and the old costs to owners. Also Marriott had to deal with guest expectations. A Westin guest expects to have daily restaurant breakfast as a welcome gift choice, but then no other welcome gift. A Renaissance guest expects to get breakfast in addition to a welcome gift, but knows breakfast will probably be in the executive lounge.
The Marriott Bonvoy program has benefits that vary by brand and geography. To a large extent, the brand-specific benefits reflect whether the brand is SPG legacy or Rewards legacy. There have been improvements, with new benefits for Courtyard, Moxy, AC Hotels, Protea, and most brands of Marriott legacy full-service resorts.
The brand and geographic variations in Marriott Bonvoy make it a ridiculously complicated program. The good news is that well-run properties take good care of elite members, with well-trained front desk employees, room assigners who take status into account, and managers who recognize that it's good business to delight elite guests. Sadly, on this forum, we read too often about properties that see elite benefits only as a cost, even if it means hurting the reputation of Marriott Bonvoy and driving previously loyal guests to flee to other hotel companies.