re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion

Amex Gold isn't really a benefits cards since it's only $250 fee a year.

$120 is offset by Uber
Another $120 by GrubHub and a few other avenues.

So for $10 if you max those credits, you get a good MR earner with the 4x dining and groceries, and 3x on airfare.

It makes sense to have if you want MRs via spend.

However, do note that Amex has recently added language where one can get the Amex Gold bonus and then earn a Platinum bonus if one wanted, but one could not do that in the opposite direction (Plat then Gold), so if you're trying to accumulate sign up bonuses it may even behoove you to start even lower with Amex Green, for example, though I don't recall off my head if Green has had its language updated.

Anyway, not trying to sell it to anyone. In my view, one should get cards/points with a goal or redemption in mind. For example, I need 300k MR to get to Africa/Bali/whatever in business class in two years. Otherwise, many people would be better off with cash back. But for me, since it's basically $10 it's a no-brainer.