Like HeyCoach I live in the area, less than 30 minutes from CMP. A couple of things to consider...you already know having done the airbnb thing in the area...
Coosa River = Lake Logan Martin, it is a power company lake that is heavily built up on the shoreline with thousands of homes ranging from modest to mega mansions. But they drop the lake level by 10' or more during the winter and most of the shoreline is deciduous trees, meaning from November until late March it is one bleak gloomy place. Most of those lake homes are not permanent residents and most don't hang out there during the winter months. Spring through fall is a different thing.
I believe you could shop around and get an airbnb deal that is far better than any of the hotels. That will give you a lot of privacy, and a lot of space. As with all airbnb things you have to research the host, location, comments from guests who stayed during that time frame, etc. But it could easily be far less than the cost of the hotels. You know this from having done the airbnb before but I would pick it as my top choice, even as a solo traveler, for staying near CMP from November through March.
You don't want to go to Talladega proper at all. The hotels on the interstate at the Lincoln and Talladega exits include most of the big chains, but they were all built to serve the racetrack and can be somewhat fleabagish the rest of the year and will usually have low occupancy and the cleaning staff may be limited, etc. All those characteristics of what a hotel is like during an area's "off season".
The major hotel chains in Pell City or Oxford/Anniston are safe bets, all along the interstate exits. From a staff point of view, dragging a dozen rifle cases into the room is not going to get you a second look in this area. Happens every day of the week.