All my experiences of them have been negative (starting from the
'pre-approved AOPA credit card' that really wasn't pre-approved at all).

Obviously you missed the issue of Consumer Reports where one of them
got one of those "You've been pre-approved for $xxxxx" credit card
letter. So he called, and they started asking the usual "How much do
you make? Do you own your on home? Etc." questions.

He interrupts the guy and asks "Wait, it says here I am pre-approved.
So why do I need to answer all these questions?"

He said, in the magazine, that the guy on the other end of the phone
never missed a beat. Just replied "Yes, Sir. You are indeed
PRE-approved. And as soon as we complete all these forms, you will be
APPROVED." G