I am going to echo calyx in that goal cards are unique and will come an go over time with changing interests and lifestyle. Then there's the issue of cards being "nerfed" or discontinued.
You can see my "Goal Cards" in my signature. However, the list is a little misleading as I most likely won't have all the cards at the same time. Some cards will replace others, and some will be dropped as my lifestyle changes.
I think the original question is interesting and want to point out a distinction that may have been missed: Different goal cards for different Levels of Creditworthiness.
For example, A Chase Saphire Preferred may be a goal card of someboday that has "Good" credit and is aspiring toward "Excellent".
On the other hand, someone with "Poor" Credit may have the Capital One Platinum as a current goal card - and that is very reasonable.
Perhaps someone with "Fair" credit has a goal of Discover It Cash Back.
I think a good goal card, regardelss of level is one that is obtainable with some sort of relatively known criteria, and one which has a utility or usefulness with it. It also serves as a defacto benchmark.
Interesting discussion.
I realize these sound like funny goal cards... but there's a method to my madness, and also a reason why I haven't yet acquired some of those which are fairly easy to get:
Sapphire Reserve & Freedom: I already have a Sapphire Preffered and a Freedom Unlimited. But I can't get the Reserve nor the Freedom until at least next summer, because I've opened too many other cards recently. And also I burned Chase not very long ago, so I'm already skating on thin ice with them as it is.
US Bank Cash+: US Bank doesn't like me very much. Not sure why, as I've never burned them before, but they have denied my app every time I've applied for this card.
Amazon Prime Store Card: Why not the Prime Visa, you might ask? Because that's yet another Chase card, and I don't want to have 4 Chase cards, plus I'll never use the card outside of amazon anyways. Why haven't I applied yet? Because I've burned Synchrony before and I'm scared to apply 
Discover It Cashback: I've burned Discover before, and they're still holding a grudge about it... prequalification website still says they have nothing to offer me.
Ducks Unlimited: 5% back on gas and sporting goods, hard to beat that! I've just been too chicken to try applying for it.
Total Loan Balance: $43k / $65k
Total SL: $78k
My only specific goal card when I started my build/rebuild was the Amex Gold, and I got it. Why that card? It fits my spend, and, it just seemed like a meaningful threshold to be able to get one. It's not super difficult to get, so I could imagine getting one within the first year. It doesn't hurt that I get a $100/year statement credit due to having a corporate card, so, the annual fee is effectively reduced from $250 to $150.
I do have some other cards I'd like to eventually have ... the list may change, and I doubt I'd actually get all of these, just a selection of them.
- Citi DC. I like that it's a prime bank, and 2% back is good even if there are hoops to jump through.
- The Discover 5% rotating category card.
- The Chase Freedom 5% rotating category card.
- - Those two pair together, in my mind. With two rotating 5% cards plus Amazon Store Card, there's a great chance of being able to get 5% on a lot of stuff at any given time.
- A Chase Sapphire card. Haven't decided yet which, but probably the Reserve if I had my choice.
- Sam's Club MasterCard. Because I am a Sam's Club member and it gives 5% off gas everywhere including Sam's. Though, if I were to switch from Sam's to Costco by then, I might prefer the Costco 4% card.
- Ducks Unlimited is another 5% gas card that is also 5% for sporting goods, and, I buy sporting goods, so that's another one I'd consider. Key question is if the 5% gas discount would apply to warehouse stores (I doubt it), but it might be worth it for me purely for the sporting goods part.
- I can't get anything from Chase until at least summer 2021 due to 5/24, so in the meantime, I may look at options like Amex BCP, Citi Prestige or Premier, or Cap1 Venture.
My general opinion of credit card issuers goes something like Chase > Amex, Citi and Discover > Cap1 and Sync, for what it's worth (that and $2 gets you a cup of coffee).
I'm not planning to apply for anything else this year, though I might do one if I start seeing preapprovals for stuff on this list.
I've been fortunate to get what I wanted after BK. One by one. Now its time to sit on my hands until that 5yr 1 month mark to go after an AMEX card. The goal cards I wanted basically was to get paid for every single thing I purchase in cash back. I have all avenues covered for now. That was the all around goal. By the time I retire. Then the travel cards I'll go after once I'm done working. Until then, I have no complaints at all.
