I obtained the CSP for the signup bonus, but also as part of a plan to transfer the limit to the Freedom. that worked out well as it almost tripled my Freedom limit. $6000 -> $17900
I obtained the Barclay Arrival+ similarly, as I hope to transfer the limit ($5000) to one of my low limit barclay cards.
I recently obtained the Citi Premiere ($5400) for signup bonus. I'm not sure if I'll be able to PC the card or transfer the limit easily, but there is also a good possibility to downgrade to a no annual fee card.
So, I do look for signup bonuses, but I also try to have an exit strategy for how the card can benefit me in other ways. Obtaining larger credit limits is a dubious benefit, but it is something I prefer to have than not.
@Open123 wrote:Several of years ago, when sign up bonuses were the highest I had ever seen (likely will never see again), I app for cards exclusively for the bonuses. Not so much now, since the lump sums are no longer as compelling.
I almost feel like sitting with people in a circle around Open and saying, "telt about the old days and about the bonuses that once were offered!"
;
@Anonymous wrote:
@red259 wrote:
@Open123 wrote:Several of years ago, when sign up bonuses were the highest I had ever seen (likely will never see again), I app for cards exclusively for the bonuses. Not so much now, since the lump sums are no longer as compelling.
I almost feel like sitting with people in a circle around Open and saying, "telt about the old days and about the bonuses that once were offered!"
"Well Red, I remember, must be night on 30 years ago, there was a card from BB&T that had sign up bonus of $35! And in those days, $35 was REAL money!"
I wouldn't suggest doing it. If you are trying to make money then juggling credit cards is not the way to do it. The way I see credit cards is a way to maximize your score. If the card you want and will actually use as a bonus, then have at it. But I certainly won't churn cards for bonuses because at some point I'll have an AA or I'll miss a payment and screwing my credit up. Then all the work I've been doing is for nothing except a few thousand miles here and there. Hardly worth the crappier APR's I'll be paying due to a missed payment from churning and burning.
Personal:
@Broke_Triathlete wrote:I wouldn't suggest doing it. If you are trying to make money then juggling credit cards is not the way to do it. The way I see credit cards is a way to maximize your score. If the card you want and will actually use as a bonus, then have at it. But I certainly won't churn cards for bonuses because at some point I'll have an AA or I'll miss a payment and screwing my credit up. Then all the work I've been doing is for nothing except a few thousand miles here and there. Hardly worth the crappier APR's I'll be paying due to a missed payment from churning and burning.
AA is not a given for churning cards unless you are doing extreme things in which case those people know they are taking on more risk and that is up to them. The risk of missing a payment or not being able to manage multiple cards is definitely a real concern and likely the biggest concern for everyone, so people who are in the habit of picking up multiple cards need to be organized. Its not for everyone that is sure and not everyone is organized enough to track it all.
Going for a bunch of signups in order to make money is also a mistake. These types of bonuses are more about getting additional perks and you really should have the money in your account to cover all the expenses associated with it. I would never recommend to someone who is of limited financial means to pick up a bunch of cards that require spending money and AFs they don't have. If someone has to utilize methods outside the norm to make even the basic initial spend of a card then they probably shouldn't be going for rewards anyway, because no matter what you're going to have to spend money at some point on the vacation. All the points in the world don't mean anything if you do not have the money to finance the rest of the trip.
@Broke_Triathlete wrote:I wouldn't suggest doing it. If you are trying to make money then juggling credit cards is not the way to do it. The way I see credit cards is a way to maximize your score. If the card you want and will actually use as a bonus, then have at it. But I certainly won't churn cards for bonuses because at some point I'll have an AA or I'll miss a payment and screwing my credit up. Then all the work I've been doing is for nothing except a few thousand miles here and there. Hardly worth the crappier APR's I'll be paying due to a missed payment from churning and burning.
Churning and burning <== this right here I like. 
As for the rest of your post, well stated.