[KevinC]

I've had an Amex card since '79. Switched from Gold to Delta Sky Miles in '98 due to business travel. Years later, still had it despite retiring and rarely traveling via Delta. Wasn't paying attention to the annual fee, but realized last year it was stupid for me to keep the card and be paying it. So I called to cancel and they convinced me to switch to a Blue Delta card, which has less benefits but NO annual fee. Fine, I'll keep it.

Bottom line - ANY annual fee is a bad idea IMHO. Too many cards out there with some very good benefits and zero fee. Find something that has the best overall benefit and roll with it. Might even be one with a fee depending on your own circumstances. But don't pay a fee for something you're not getting a proper offsetting return from, and especially if you're not using it all or barely.