Very well-said on your part too, Aim_High. I learned years ago that sparking internet flame wars over something trivial, like a forum thread not going the way you'd expect isn't worth the trouble. 
As for Costco, recall also an Executive membership earns cashback shopping (issued as store credit, I think) entirely independent of Visa purchases. It's a great deal all around, and a big mile-marker for me. My Hawaiian Airlines MC (regardless of credit limits) is a gemstone not only being the 1st airline-branded card I've ever gotten, but for reasons unrelated to credit building or rebuilding. Rest assured - the day I'm carrying multiple high-end travel cards with ridiculous limits and diamond-level status, I'll be the happiest guy on these forums. I don't understand the hate people throw towards Credit One = they've been very kind to me for several years now. It's all perspective.
It looks like I should do some more research on 2%-3% options (great postings you shared there!), vs. Apple, vs. just waiting a few months on whether AmEx is going to be generous. A big point there will depend on finding out which banks or CUs would take an "outsider" (i.e., me) not currently affiliated with them via checking accounts, auto loans, etc. Apple could be the "easy button" to push, however it might not be worth the extra inquiry (et al) for a product I won't use to its full potential.
@SKBirdmind wrote:Very well-said on your part too, Aim_High. I learned years ago that sparking internet flame wars over something trivial, like a forum thread not going the way you'd expect isn't worth the trouble.
As for Costco, recall also an Executive membership earns cashback shopping (issued as store credit, I think) entirely independent of Visa purchases. It's a great deal all around, and a big mile-marker for me. My Hawaiian Airlines MC (regardless of credit limits) is a gemstone not only being the 1st airline-branded card I've ever gotten, but for reasons unrelated to credit building or rebuilding. Rest assured - the day I'm carrying multiple high-end travel cards with ridiculous limits and diamond-level status, I'll be the happiest guy on these forums. I don't understand the hate people throw towards Credit One = they've been very kind to me for several years now. It's all perspective.
It looks like I should do some more research on 2%-3% options (great postings you shared there!), vs. Apple, vs. just waiting a few months on whether AmEx is going to be generous. A big point there will depend on finding out which banks or CUs would take an "outsider" (i.e., me) not currently affiliated with them via checking accounts, auto loans, etc. Apple could be the "easy button" to push, however it might not be worth the extra inquiry (et al) for a product I won't use to its full potential.
Credit One has a lot of cards that deserve all the hate they get, however most people fail to realize those cards are not for the average user certainly not the average credit user that goes to reddit or an internet forum to better maximize their rewards. Not every card they offer is loaded with fees though.
They are for people like you, that got in a bit of trouble, and are working on fixing it. Or the no credit score no credit never had credit guy like me. I had no credit score and an illogical desire to have an amex card in my wallet. Amex wouldn't touch me but credit one had a nice no fee card that offered all the benefits of an actual amex from what I hear they have the most complete suite of amex benefits on a card outside of amex and in fact amex actively suggests people that were denied try for credit one instead.
Few card issuers are deliberately terrible, however many are offered to a target demographic highly likely to screw up and are priced accordingly. If people were being honest with themselves capital one is not much better they always triple pull your reports for marginal scores often have an annual fee, are well known for low starter limits and their bucketing of cards, and at nearly every level of card offering someone is doing the same for better rewards or no annual fee, yet capital one is nearly the first card out of everyone's mouths when someone asks what card should I get to build credit.
Credit One has been good to me, but I definitely out grew them, and you likely have as well. That platinum is a decent card but in no way justifies a 95 dollar annual fee. In fact they have a no fee 2% flat rate visa that if I am reading your sig correctly you already have, that makes the apple card fairly moot for you, and isn't that different rewards wise from the 5x card after you consider the spendng cap and annual fee. When talking about rewards isn't that the real metric? not what percent you get back but the actual cash? Closed in good standing That c1 5x plat will continue to help you build credit for the next decade and as long as you keep your travel and costco card and other no fee cards open it will make little difference in a decade.
Would also see if you could talk capital one into product changing that plat card into a savor or venture, you already have a 2% visa no reason to keep a card with no cash back at all.
Of course this thread dies the moment I try to steer back on topic. 
I guess you could say that about the 1st card I got with Credit One. $400 limit unsecured, $75 (I think) annual fee, and no grace period = meaning interest on every single purchase. Not worth it, so I closed down after a year and once they approved me for a 2nd card. Don't know if that makes me "an average user" or not... Rewards simply post automatically as a statement credit per month on both my Credit One accounts - don't recall the exact %.
On a more general note, I might still be missing something when it comes to killing off accounts for the sake of killing off accounts. Would an advantage involve something like freed up credit limits, closed-good-standing being appealing for other lenders for which to make better or more lucrative offers? One could argue that an extra blue sweater sitting inside a bedroom closet isn't taking up too much space or doing any real harm. Different perspectives on getting rid of it (no one NEEDS a pair of blue sweaters) vs. keeping in case the other blue sweater gets damaged, stained, or otherwise ruined...
I like your idea of seeing if Capital One would be willing to upgrade (or pre-approve) me - especially if I could keep the account number et al. Like many, I started rebuilding with Platinum at a $300 unsecured limit, currently sitting pretty at $1,500. I guess I'm falling behind here too, if they're really "not much better."
@SKBirdmind wrote:Of course this thread dies the moment I try to steer back on topic.
On a more general note, I might still be missing something when it comes to killing off accounts for the sake of killing off accounts. Would an advantage involve something like freed up credit limits, closed-good-standing being appealing for other lenders for which to make better or more lucrative offers? One could argue that an extra blue sweater sitting inside a bedroom closet isn't taking up too much space or doing any real harm. Different perspectives on getting rid of it (no one NEEDS a pair of blue sweaters) vs. keeping in case the other blue sweater gets damaged, stained, or otherwise ruined...
I think the "thread died" since you already got a lot of feedback on the pro's and con's of an Apple card, the premise of your original posting @SKBirdmind. At this point, the call is up to you on whether you think it's worthwhile. Maybe all the earlier off-topic diversion did some damage in anyone looking at the thread and tiring of the direction it was headed before they got to the end or had a chance to respond. I've also noticed that the forums have been very quiet lately with little new activity. Perhaps it's the first of the year effect or the lack of much new credit news and excitement.
As to your "blue sweater theory", there a lot of reasons why someone might keep an older card open but there are also many reasons to close it. Some is personal preference but there are legitimate personal finances or credit reasons to close one.
- If the card has an AF, we often recommend that those less-desirable starter cards be closed as soon as they aren't useful. No reason to continue to pay unnecessary fees.
- Protecting credit age is often mentioned as motivation to not close an older starter card. We tell those members that while there is no firm standard, credit accounts often continue to report for age up to around 10 years after closure. (I've had some report much longer. Occassionally, I've had some disappear much more quickly but that is the exception.) So keeping them open for age is probably not needed.
- Beyond the AF, "Starter" or "Rebuilder" cards often will have much less desirable terms (higher APRs, higher late fees, shorter grace periods, etc.) And the rewards return is often subpar to prime cards. Once a credit profile advances into prime cards, the starter cards aren't very useful. And even if you normally pay-in-full, keeping APRs as low as possible is good protection in the event that "Life Happens" and your payment is delayed.
- Keeping cards for aggregate credit utilization scoring is often mentioned. In the case of starter/rebuilder cards, the lower limits on these types of cards won't make much if any utilization scoring difference as higher limits on prime cards are achieved.
- Keeping cards that you won't use has hidden costs. For one, cards that aren't used are often closed by the lender anyway after somewhere between about six months and two years, depending on the card and lender. In keeping with the "extra blue sweater" analogy, you've got to actually wear it sometimes. So like an extra blue sweater requires some upkeep from occassional laundering or repairs or dusting around, an extra card account does also. Secondly, unlike an extra sweater hanging in your closet that doesn't pose any risk to your finances, you must keep tabs on ALL your card accounts regularly to make sure there aren't unauthorized fraud charges.
- Perhaps not in your case, but sometimes our members have found new credit applications or limits are hindered by total available revolving credit, or credit available as a ratio of income. Closing unneeded accounts can help keep this in check.
- As your profile grows in your rebuild, you'll probably be approved for better prime cards with somewhat higher credit limits. From my experience, lenders tend to factor your existing limits into their equation when they assign a starting limit. If all you've demonstrated that you can manage is $500 or $1K or $2K cards, your new limit may be held back based on this, even if income or FICO would otherwise support a $10K limit. On the other hand, if you close some lower-limit cards as you grow your profile, you increase the chances that your starting limits will be higher. I call this concept "leveraging" my limits between lenders. They may not want to be your new highest limit but they often don't want to be your lowest either. My limits have grown slowly over time.
- While many lenders won't routinely do a manual review, in the case that they do they may note that someone has an abundance of entry-level or subprime cards. This is my own speculation, but knowing human nature I would expect that to make an impression one-way-or-the other with an underwriter about the strength of your credit file.
All-in-All, there's nothing inherrently wrong with keeping an account open and sock-drawered. But it's best if the decision is a conscious one that takes some of the above variables into account. If someone wants to keep those accounts open indefinitely, it takes a little time and effort.
Sometimes I wonder if things like internet forums (in general) are seeing less traffic as people graviatate towards Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, or whatever else these days.
As usual, I think Aim_High is pretty spot-on here. In terms of this original thread, for now my verdict seems to be "no" on Apple Card for reasons stated and useful feedback from experienced members. So, if AmEx (MUCH more worthwhile in my situation) doesn't pan out these next few months I'll go back to researching 2%-3% cards. We'll see...
Deviating towards my sub-topic of keeping vs. getting rid of old rebuilder cards and my blue sweater theory, who knew THAT would spark such controversy either! 
In weighing options, I think it would be practical to sunset First Progress at this point. It's the smallest and by far most locked down out of anything in my wallet ($29 annual fee, no rewards, credit limit NEVER increases unless you put more $$$ into security fund, etc.). I guess I had somewhat overlooked how long things can report in terms of credit age along with utilization not making a huge difference, mathematically speaking. ($200 vs. $6,800...) While I'd have no issue making a small monthly purchase and subsequent payment just for the sake of "occasionally wearing my blue extra sweater," it could likely be more trouble than it's worth - flawed metaphors aside! Most anything upper-tier with a 5 x figure limit would be stuff of legend for me, thus also useful knowing how I might be able to help leverage that. I just plotted out how to do my attempt at "AZeO" (another personal 1st), in hopes of knocking my next 2023 approval out of the park.
Merrick on the other hand has retained my $200 deposit in exchange for eventual credit line increases to $250, and even much later $315! Soooooo exciting. At least they're among those who have around-the-clock phone lines!
As for longtimelukrer's additions, First Progress will most definitely never "turn into something more useful by itself." I think there is enough information on here and elsewhere to make said semi-informed decision.
I will step down now!
