Bilt is actually really compelling as your only or secondary card. If I had a friend with one card, let's say Chase Freedom Flex, and they pay rent, then I would wholeheartedly recommend them Bilt as a second card. 3x dining is decent and 2x travel is pretty good for a no fee card.

The problem is once you have a ton of expensive cards, each marginal card has to provide something unique for you to keep it around. Statement credits are ok for breakeven but hotel FNCs push the needle for me.

If we look at the two proposed $550 cards vs the CSR:

• I don't book through the portal, but Bilt has 5x vs Chase 10x
• Bilt Neighborhood dining is just a small subset of restaurants so it's either 1x or 2x vs Chase 3x
• Lyft is 5x vs Chase 10x, if Chase isn't extended in March 2025 I will switch Lyft to Bilt anyways
• Walgreens I don't spend much at
• Direct flight booking is 3x/4x vs Chase 3x
• I have better cards for grocery and gas

I'm sure I could squint at it and say the Bilt card with points earning on rent plus their (probably hard to use) statement credits is better than the Chase one, but Chase has a much larger ecosystem of cards which help me accrue easily.

I'm almost reminded of the discontinued Uber Visa card (https://www.uber.com/newsroom/uber-visa-card/), which was also amazing as a free card but got nerfed as it didn't make money