Debit cards usually don’t offer cashback, perks, or robust fraud protections, and do nothing for your credit score. That last one is the important bit. I used to use my debit card exclusively, and could never get approved for any kind of loan. Once I started using credit cards the way I described in my other comment, my credit score jumped waaaaaay up and I started getting approved for everything.

Many don't have a choice, especially in the US. Without playing the credit game you end up paying significantly more in loan interest for things like a house or car or can't even get a loan. One of the easiest ways to keep a good credit score is to have a credit card you've had forever and that you consistently use and pay off.

It's a goodbye screwed up system

I would love to just use my debit card instead but I don’t get the same level of protection nor cash back on spending from my debit card.

The bank knows people will make mistakes that they didn't before. They stand to make more money off those people. It is not a neutral policy that they've arrived to in a mutually beneficial manner.

Their favorite customer is one who slips up sometimes. Bank still gets the debt paid as expected, but now with more fees.

They also want people to say "thems the rules, deal with it". That lets it appear to be a neutral policy while making more money than before.

Debit cards offer less security, are less convenient at most places, and might cause an overdraft in the event of a bank error.

Bank error and debit charge putting you in overdraft? You now have two problems to solve.

Bank error and credit charge with a future pay off date? You have one problem and more time to solve it.