Ok... I have some interesting info for you on this. You are right - the SRAM file is good! Its the ROM from the retrode that is bad! If I download a good rom dump, the SRM file works with it - just the dump from the retrode does not.
This is crazy though - the file size is the same on disc and the header info matches? What the heck? Byte size is exactly the same, but again - Snes9x CANNOT see the SRM file with the ROM from the Retrode, only with the reference one I got online. I don't know what to make of this.
Good dump:
File: C:\SNES\I\Illusion of Gaia (U).smc
Name: ILLUSION OF GAIA USA
Speed: 31/FastROM
ROM Map: HiROM
Type: 02
Kart contents: ROM+RAM+BAT
Header ROM Size: 16Mbits
Calculated ROM Size: 16 Mbits
SRAM size: 64Kbits (64Kbit)
Actual Checksum: BEA9
Header Checksum: BEA9
Header Checksum Compliment: 4156
Output: NTSC 60Hz
CRC32: 1C3848C0
Licensee: Nintendo
ROM Version: 1.0
Region: USA/Canada
Retrode Dump:
File: C:\SNES\I\Illusion of Gaia.smc
Name: ILLUSION OF GAIA USA
Speed: 31/FastROM
ROM Map: HiROM
Type: 02
Kart contents: ROM+RAM+BAT
Header ROM Size: 16Mbits
Calculated ROM Size: 16 Mbits
SRAM size: 64Kbits (64Kbit)
Actual Checksum: BEA9
Header Checksum: BEA9
Header Checksum Compliment: 4156
Output: NTSC 60Hz
CRC32: 1C3848C0
Licensee: Nintendo
ROM Version: 1.0
Region: USA/Canada