What exactly are you expecting to happen to a $10k watch in the first 90 days that $150 is worthwhile?

That probably isn't the best example as a previous poster already mentioned (best to insure separately like any goods of such value).

But as someone that's been nearly 100% earn focused since day 1 but now with school-age children, I'm appreciating the return, damage and loss protection far more these days. Kids tend to break, ruin or lose things (and that's fine, they can have their fun).

The instances in which an item purchased for my kids on a card with higher earn but no protections has sustained a loss or damage (in lieu of a card with lower earn but with return and purchase protection) are piling up. Most notable was an expensive rolling school bag with a telescoping handle that my son managed to somehow crush just days after buying (so the handle is now stuck extended forever).

It's definitely causing me to reconsider my points-first strategy and value the Platinum (or Aspire) more. I also have the Prestige, which is much more robust in terms of earn, but that lacks return protection and lost item purchase protection (and, of course, no rental car or travel protections to speak of).

1) I do insure watches and other jewelry separately
2) Always a chance you can get robbed / lose the watch between the time you buy it and the time you get it insured separately
3) I seem to get some pretty good targeted Amex offers related to jewelry after putting some related spend on the card

No offense but then I don�t really understand your calculation for your watch example. Insurance on a $10K watch is cheaper than the opportunity cost you calculated and superior in every way to the purchase protection on the Platinum. It just doesn�t make sense to me. Why pay $150 for 90 day purchase protection when you could spend even $120-$135 to get superior insurance for a year?

I mean people always say this but idgi. If you are truly afraid of something happening in the 1-2 days you would go without full insurance, you could always just apply for coverage and leave the watch with the jeweler until it�s settled. Many decent homeowners insurance plans would even cover you during this middle period (but obviously with a lower limit).

But is the threat to you so credible that you don�t feel safe with uninsured jewelry for 2 days? What about your personal safety? If this is the case, it would be wise to get extensive umbrella insurance (which I do tbh) and hire private security from something like Blackwater (which I don�t lol). You would be paying 1.5% of value for 2 days worth of coverage. I think most people reasonably value their life above $10K but still aren�t spending even $75/day on security.

You hit the nail on the head with the marketing exposure. Loss from 90 days from the date of purchase is a statistically improbable even. A gimmick designed to get big spenders to put their 1% spend on there for "convenience". And it works.

The extended manufacturer warranty has some actual utility IMO. That is a very common feature of many credit cards though. Even if AMEX has the best coverage here, what is the frequency of which this is used, and what is lost using other cards?

It is almost like reverse insurance purchasing. Most financial experts will tell you to take all of the money you'd spend in insurance, warranties, etc and self-insure. In the unlikelihood of loss, you are statistically much better off. I think this is fairly similar.

While I agree that included protections on credit cards are a great thing (and much better than buying them), I still can't agree that it would be the center of my purchasing habits. I earn thousands per year in rewards. I honestly can't remember a time that I needed to use these things, and in what universe it would have been worth throwing away thousands.

Although not jewelry or high end watches, many years ago my father purchased a new car and as he was pulling out of the dealership parking lot, he was hit by a drunk driver who went through a red light and the car was totaled so losses in the first 90 days are not statistically improbable.

He owned the car for a total of 30 minutes

Then I think we've safely identified the card strategy that doesn't work for you!