Gold is entirely worthless to me. The step up in benefits with Platinum or Titanium is significant. When I travel for work, I value room upgrades and lounge access above all else. For the destinations I travel to, I regularly get suite upgrades, whereas when I was Gold, they would sometimes throw one of those upgrades that's not really an upgrade, like moving me to a pool view room or a higher floor.

It's only worth staying loyal to Marriott if you can manage a minimum of 50 nights a year.