Originally Posted by
theorbo
I hate the fact that the miles from purchase earning potential is so low on the Delta Reserve but I put a lot of purchases on it to get the MQM bonuses as I typically don't fly enough to keep my platinum status otherwise.
By and large, the >$400 AF cards across issuers offer minimal advantages in terms of reward earn relative to lower AF sibling cards: it's non-earning benefits (or high enough spend in the one category which the high-AF card might be best in the family, like vanilla Plat airfare) that you get the card for. If one can justify a Reserve, they can likely justify a DL Plat.
I guess there's a convenience/simplicity argument for a super-premium card which combines the DL Reserve and DL Plat: $1000 AF, the higher of Plat or Reserve earn rates in every category (maybe a 1.5x rate on non-categorized?), 1 F and 1 Y companion cert, and MQM boosts at Plat and then Reserve spend levels (so 25/50/80/110/140/170/200?). One card for your physical or digital wallet for earning DL miles becomes the real benefit.