Courtyard is/was a useful brand for business travelers that need to visit a variety of locations (cities, smaller towns, suburbs, etc), collect/earn Marriott points, have consistent expectation of furnishings, linens, etc, and to be able to grab a coffee in the morning or something from the grab and go retail area. When a newer Courtyard opens up in an area where it hadn't been before, it can be a better hard product than the inevitably older Marriott nearby. Here is the issue though:

1) "Bistro" breakfast offerings are very inconsistent - in most locations, they are not fresh/healthy, the Bistro may not be staffed, etc. The breakfast is generally worse than offered at a Hilton Garden Inn (which is the competitor). The evening offerings can actually better, with stuff like oven ready pizzas and a generally decent bar.

2) In many markets, Courtyard hotels are now being outcompeted by AC. In a market where an AC and a Courtyard coexist, AC will likely be newer and have better amenities (bar, gym).