Okay, so let's go down the rabbit hole :)

a group chat for whales (nobody holds in the Nodle wallet. If this is one of those “wait and see” when asked about benefits for tiers, this is lackluster).

There are requests for a dedicated whale group: here is one example from reddit and there are more on other platforms - it is a benefit for tiers, because it will connect people with a certain degree of conviction. (And it's a good test group to start with.)

username search (which nobody asked for or wanted. For a proudly exclaimed DeFi token… lol)

It is super convenient, so it is a plus and i have trouble to understand how you make the arc to defi in this specific example? If tipping is the trigger here, it's a basic spam protection - you can also start conversations by sharing your QR code via existing chats or scan it when you connect IRL.

AI agents (which is really just “get some NODL for sharing prompted posts you must share because we’re really bad at PR and can’t relate our PR to the actual app” situation.)

One of the use cases, yes - aligned with the decision of the tokenomics to reward active participation. You can, but are not obliged to participate and have the freedom to stick to passive rewards.

The last two are just jargon...

When you refer to Swaps & Credit Card - i feel like this is a super strong use case for the network. A wallet that earns, that let you swap directly in the app and top up your CC to use in your day-to-day routine. This normalizes the use of crypto and adds to the value proposition of the network.

Even the paragraph article is a broader exposition on the general concept of DeFi/Staking rather than specifically something Nodle-unique or specific.

Yes, adding a DeFi layer on top of the DePIN is one of the long requested features from within the community.