Exactly. As long as you have a SSN and other identification out there, you are a potential target...
* Lack of history makes successful applications less likely
* Lack of history makes fraud stand out, any activity is fraud
* Since fraud has been identity theft, meaning I have to bitch-and-moan, lack of utilization of credit lends to a stronger story which can help convince folks whereas a serial debtor makes for a less sympathetic and less convincing victim.
Additionally, you have less risk of compromise:
* That website can't leak my CC details
* That skimmer can't capture my CC details
* That waiter[0] can't clone my card
I went full-cash, even paying for a utilities-included apartment. It also seems to cause me to keep a bit better track of my spending. Easier to overspend when your balance is a number in the cloud somewhere.
[0] - Depends on country, e.g. the US frequently has waitstaff take your card to a terminal
Additionally, it's possible for cards to get locked and that's a PITA to deal with, and god forbid it takes more than a moment to unlock. Hope you have backup cash.
Personally, I'd rather deal with the known hassle (cash) vs. the unknown future hassle (card).
In Europe you have a 24hr window to catch the fraud. Afterwards you assume all liability.