Another big thing though is if you are actually realizing those rewards: I vastly prefer a cash rewards card. "Airline miles" are arbitrary. They don't actually

Another big thing though is if you are actually realizing those rewards: I vastly prefer a cash rewards card. "Airline miles" are arbitrary. They don't actually equate to either... actually flown miles nor dollar value. So airlines can pretty much devalue them at will, and impose any restrictions on them they want. Who knows what your airline miles actually get you back in value, if you successfully spend them in the first place. Meanwhile, my credit cards have cash rewards: I know x% of my credit card statement I can credit back to my account. There's a direct cash value I glean from spending with my credit card versus cash and I know what it is up front. > Really the only real loser here is people who pay cash. Indeed. Since the price is the same either way most places, if you can buy with a credit card, that's the right choice.