"No, the charge is not applied to Gold Card holders. Given the understandable outrage by those affected, premium BA flyers might actually find request seats become more available."
Nothing suggests that it wont be applied to gold card customers.
I can't see seat requests becoming more available, at the moment I believe they release preferred seats closer to the flight time, if the other passengers are paying for this, then I cant see them holding back seats.
BA have already lost me on a flight that would have cost me a tad under £4k, I have another one to book to the USA, but since I am flying BA to Boston next week I think I will wait and see how that one goes before deciding.