Ok that's insane. Here in America, in Amex's home market, the benefits are substantial and wildly different. I have the Gold and the Plat.

For the Plat: 5x points for every $ spent, for all airfare booked directly with airlines. All transactions on Amex Travel portal earn 5x also. This is for worldwide transactions. In addition, we regularly receive more than $1000 worth of annual discounts which are very easy to use; these more than pay for the annual fee. This is not counting targeted additional discounts and things (spend $2000 at Zegna, receive 20 000 additional points; earn 5x points at Hugo Boss (up to 500 in spend), for example), which are unlimited. Let's not forget, elite status at hotels; access to DL / Plaza Premium / PP / LH lounges, etc. but you get the idea.

For the Gold: 4x points for every $ spent in restaurants worldwide, and all US supermarkets / grocery stores. Annual discounts up to the annual fee.

With these two, I easily get PAID to use the card each and every year. In addition, with some smart planning and moderately significant spending (my spending levels are very similar to yours), I can easily earn around a quarter of a million - half a million in CC points alone, every year, just from these two cards. Under these circumstances, tell me that transfer partners don't matter. See what I mean? Anyways, my 2 cents.