Credit card debt and credit card balance aren’t the same thing, in practice.

If I had long standing debt on a credit card, I’d be paying an extremely high interest rate on that debt even with a >800 credit score.

If I have a balance that’s completely paid every month, I pay no interest on that “debt”. And while that money is floating, it’s in a 4.5% high yield savings account (Sallie Mae).

In the former situation, I am losing money. In the later, I’m making money. (Compared to paying with cash / debit).