I appreciate all of the information. From an airline perspective, it sounds like I need to do more research on which is going to best fit my needs flying from DSM and will offer the most rewarding FF program.
As for AMEX, my best option for maximizing MR points seems to be combining my Zync card with the Platinum for at least a year (assuming I can still get the 50k points with already having the Zync). As best I can tell, retaining the Zync is the only way to get bonus points for the things I do most like dining out. I can see the benefits of the Gold card as well but with Zync I can hone in on my spending habits.
Just to verify, I can downgrade the Platinum to a Gold next year should I decide to consolidate my cards?
I appreciate all of your help and the warm welcome to FT!