[lettergram]

Total it would be like $300, but all of them are "first year free".

Plus usually you can call and get the second year free too.

Regardless, I can cancel w.e. and the increase in my credit score is worth it. At the moment if I want to buy a house (for example) I get the best rates on loans

[nommm-nommm]

Many cards are first year free but quite a few aren't. AMEX stopped first year free on a lot of their cards. Regardless if I'm getting a bonus I'm subtracting any fees from that bonus to see if it makes sense. If a card is $100 annual fee and the worth of the first year is $500 it's a no brainier to get $400.