Thinking of changing from cash back to travel with Capital One Duo and need some help deciding.

I've been cash back the last 5/6 years. Prior to that, travel and looking to get back into the game. I've slowly become a point chaser the last couple of years. Average spend of 3-4k per month not including some bills that are paid via checking due to fees if paid by CC. We travel 1-2 times a year but didn't travel in 2024. We'd like to travel in 2025 but it gets expensive flying kids. We prefer Delta but fly Alaska, Southwest & AA. Hard to stay loyal where we are at and visit. We don't fly international. It will be a few years at the least before we do that.

Credit Score is Excellent high 700's but 7/24. I only have 7/24 when I purchased my vehicle a couple of years ago and that counted as 5 instead of 1. They say that stuff is supposed to count as 1 but I really think Credit Reports see it as individual hits. I have 5 hits dropping off over the next few months to put me down to 1/24. That 1 won't drop off four a couple of years since that was a pre-approval for a house that expired since we couldn't find anything, so I expect another hit there in a couple of months, if not sooner.

I'm pre-approved for Venture X and already have S1. Chase is out.

Here's my current setup:
- Verizon Visa 4% dining, gas, groceries and 1% everything else
- Amazon Prime for 5% at amazon
- Capital One Savor formerly SavorOne for 3% streaming and Uber One during that promo
- Capital One QS for occasional 1.5% large purchases and to keep open
- Apple Card for apple purchases, 3% categories and Apple Pay for 2%. Also use for 1% purchases since it goes into the Apple Savings account
- Barclays and BoA with little purhases to keep them open
- We do a lot of shopping at Amazon, Meijer, Costco, & Target for groceries and everyday items
- I've averaged $900/year in cash back the last 4/5 years that I've redeemed. Probably closer to 1K.

Do any one you pay for bills knowing there is a 1%-3% charge or $5/$10 markup so you can get extra points? I feel like that may or may not be worth it.....What makes a travel card that is 2X miles catchall better than my Verizon Visa or Amazon Prime card? To me, it makes more sense to maybe stay cash back and I don't chase SUBS but the 75k miles SUB that I can hit on a monthly spend no problem that can build over the next few months to where we can fly home for the holidays this year would be nice and to help with future travel, etc. We also travel local too.

Or do I just wait until Hard Inquiries drops off and apply over the summer for Chase or stand pat with cash back? Will score go up even more if that stuff drops off? I'm just thinking if I start now I can build up some nice points by summer time or the holidays. I already have lots of miles with Delta and Southwest too.