We sailed on EDGE twice... in AQ Class and a Sunset Veranda..Sailed on ASCENT recently in AQ Class, and took a short cruise on BEYOND in a SS...while Butlers were on the job. We are booked in an SV on APEX but also heading to an S Class ship in Concierge.
There's something for everyone on E Class ships....We did not enjoy Luminae..one of the main benefits of Suites and found the Retreat lounge antiseptic !
Suite guests do have certain perks and private areas, but so did AQ Class. Most everything is open to all like bars and specialty dining, the gym, outdoor pools and Solarium...etc
More concerning is the Creaking thing!