I just go with whatever pays the most cash back. I don't want to pay for the card itself.

Convoluted / ever changing loyalty programs are a whole system that I just don't want to deal with.

I'd pay $800 if I thought it gave me something concrete. If it's just to try and jump through more hoops, it's like clipping coupons, it's not worth it and I'd rather just buy the thing I want. So it's weird the idea of an intersection between people who would pay the $800 and people who won't just buy the flight amd options they want. It's targeting people who do it for sport, or who think they'll save way more (get more benefits) than they actually will.

I can renew Sapphire for a year grandfathered at the same rate, so I think I’ll wait that out, but afterwards I think it’s the Venture X.

Just get me into the lounge please.

One of the Delta airline cards costs this much. It's worth it of you travel frequently.