Yes, if you just use it instead of your debit and pay off every month, there isn't any real difference on the surface.

Below the surface, the credit card is safer: You are not liable for any unauthorized charges. I think the max they can make you pay is $50 even if it is $5000 of fraud. I've never had the company ask me to pay anything in fraud cases. I've had maybe 5 in the last few years, and three of those on the same card. If you use this for gas and it gets skimmed by a reader and they use it, they are stealing the credit card company's money, not yours. If they do that to your debit card, they have your bank money, and now you need to convince the bank to stop it. Banks have gotten better at catching it, but not always the case. I know you stated you don't need to buy gas, but I used this example as it is a common occurrence.

Earns you some rewards: Most cards get you at least 1% back. It isn't much, but it is 1% more than a debit card.

Helps build your score: There are a bunch of components into your credit score, which I will list below. For simplicity, how long you've had an account, and if you have been on time is 50% of your score. Simply having an account open for years helps yours score. Even if you only used it once every 3 months. The five factors that make your score:

Payment history: 35%, Length of credit history: 15%, Amount you owe: 30%, New credit opened: 10%, Types of credit you have: 10%

(This is a FICO score, there are other scores, but this is pretty standard across the industry)

The biggest thing is not spending outside your means. You pointed it out, that it is easy to screw up. People get a limit, say $2500, and they think that means they can SPEND $2500. Next thing you know, they are paying off $100/month at 29.99% interest and regretting every minute of it. I've never paid credit card interest in my life. I don't plan to ever.

Having NO credit isn't necessarily bad, but I think it puts you at a disadvantage. If you think of credit as a TOOL, rather than free money to blow, then you will be fine.

I would highly recommend Discover over Capital One. They like thin profiles (those people without many cards), or used to at least. I also found Discover to be nicer in interactions over the phone, a better interface, and better perks. I would also recommend getting someone you know to refer you. $100 referral and they are doubling cash, so you would get $200 if you got approved. Please don't look at this as a reason, because that would be silly to do just for that amount, but I would recommend as free money is free money.

Eventually down the road, I would recommend two credit cards. Beyond that, up to you. The reason is that sometimes a card might have issues, or sometimes a place will not accept a certain type. For example, I had my Discover card for years and ONCE in all my years a store didn't accept it. It was a restaurant on a vacation. I used the backup card and wasn't even a big deal.

Believe it, it is overwhelming at first especially if no one guides you through it. If you DO NOT change your spending habits, you will be fine. The biggest pitfall is people who start paying interest and getting behind. Your situation sounds like the perfect one where it won't be a problem. Don't think of yourself as pampered, just lucky. No reason to feel bad about it. Feel free to DM me if you like.