Cashback and protections paid out of higher transaction fees, merchant raises prices to cover those costs. It's not just a magic money machine; the consumer is subsiding significant card company profits. If we all just agreed to forgo the rewards and protection there would be fewer middlemen to pay, but I don't blame you for acting greedily (I do the same).

I understand that you can benefit if you play it correctly, but can you deny that it's designed to fuck people over that don't? Idk at least to me thats why i don't even want to be part of it, even if i am doing fine with money and would net benefit, probably. I just don't want to be part of that predatory system.

Edit: of course i am also talking as someone who grew up not exposed to credit scores at all and only ever paying debit.