Yes, it is an excuse. I had a recent paid stay with Amex FHR (which is supposed to provide a one-level upgrade if available) and my Titanium status, and my room actually got downgraded from what I booked (i.e. accessible room next to the elevator, with none of my preferences accounted for). It was a one-night stay, and I wasn't going to spend time fighting it. But I will never recommend that hotel to others, and I'll eventually get around to calling it out on TripAdvisor. I don't think the hotel in question will care.

When I am choosing hotels for repeat stays, I have started looking at how I was treated during my initial stay. Did I get a top floor, clean, quiet room as a Titanium? Or did I get a dirty room with a dumpster view on the bottom floor with complimentary distinctive party smoke smell when the hotel was empty? Sometimes that leads me back to a Marriott-branded hotel. Other times, it might be a Hilton, Hyatt, etc. if they took great care of me.

I've been doing the same with airlines, and I'm much happier with this approach.