The perk has been around for before I was lead developer and it allows you to use it in your title - consider it gifted to you by the monks. Donations rewarding IC benefits are controversial but so is removing one of the oldest perks to donating - you're not forced to use the RP if you wish not to
Originally it was the explain the reasoning behind why diamond / bedrock VIPs have land claim in-character. Gold VIP's do not have land claim so it makes the explination a little cloudier - I'm not sure how lordship got onto the gold perks actually O.o