but since they charge the same prices to holders of credit (2% fee) and debit (0.05% fee), users of credit cards are de facto subsidized by cash/debit payers in the US

so as an individual it still may pay you to have one

> users of credit cards are de facto subsidized by cash/debit payers in the US

Yes, sadly. So you have to play the game in order not to lose, and playing the game means that the credit cards take their cut, which means everyone loses except the credit cards.