Gmail not being retrieved automatically

I have recently (since ~1month ago) experienced the following **problem**: - When I get new mail on my gmail account, Gmail will **usually** not autimatically retrieve it (e.g., no notification; and when I manually open GMail app, the mail will NOT be in the inbox) - However, **manual** mail retrieval/sync **DOES** work fine, for example if I click on "Sync" (retreieve) curcle icon within GMail app; or on Elixir 2's "start background data sync" icon; or check-off-and-back-on on the "Mail Sync" in Settings->Accounts for relevant Google account. - Also, **sometimes** Gmail does get retrieved/notified; I am not 100% sure but there seems to be a very strong correllation between that and having recently opened GMail app (especially in foreground). - GMail sync worked perfectly find till ~1 month ago - The background sync does not work for ANY of the 3 Gmail accounts I registered. - **OTHER mail apps seem to sync perfectly fine (e.g. Hotmail or Yahoo mail) in the background.**. So I have a hard time believing it is a problem with overall sync. - The issue is independent of network - it doesn't work on WiFi or 3G. **System details:** - Droid X, running rooted stock Froyo 2.2. - I have gone through 100% of intents in [Autostarts](http://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=autostart&fdid=com.elsdoerfer.android.autostarts) and made sure every single intent is ON for both Gmail listener and Google Framework. - Gmail version is 2.3.6 (it has a 7/1/2012 backup in Titanium Backup Pro, so I'm assuming this is when it was last updated. BUT the problem existed before 7/1) - **Background sync is turned ON - confirmed via Quick Settings app as well as widgets from Elixir 2.** (also, as noted above, Hotmail and Yahoo mail seem to sync fine)