Credit isn't a measure of financial savvy. It's a measure of likelihood to repay debts. It may be financially savvy to strategically default, putting the two in conflict.
Precisely. In many ways it is better to steadily use a card (while being mindful of utilization ratios) and pay it than it is to carry a zero balance.
The credit system might have been initially about debt repayment, but there are several measures in store regarding "how valuable / revenue-generating is a customer".
And at times, these two principles may be in harmony, and at others, not so much.
