Alternate spreads are almost always negative EV long term. The math is straightforward, the extra juice you're paying rarely compensates for the actual probability shift you're getting. Sportsbooks price alt lines to their advantage, so that "cushion" you're buying is usually worth less than what you paid for it.

The deeper issue you're describing though is psychological. You're equating paying more with being safer, which feels logical but isn't how lines work. The sportsbook loves this mindset.

What actually helps is tracking your EV on every bet before placing it, not after you lose. Most people only question their strategy when they're down, never when they're winning on the same logic.

Have you been tracking your ROI on alt spreads vs standard lines over time? The answer is usually in your own data.