And, if you value those reward points at ≈$0.01 per point, 5,000 reward points are worth $50.
That's why so many people held a no points, no Interntional fee credit card, because it made economic sense.
When CBA introduced CBA Ultimate with a $2,500 per month spend to avoid the monthly fee, and no international fees, and 3 points per dollar for OS spend, it seemed perfect.
At $4,000 per month to avoid the monthly fee, I'm about to cancel, as there are a few months a year I will struggle to avoid the fee.
It's only by clever timing of flexible purchases that I have managed so far, and it's too much trouble, when as you so accurately point out, the international fees saved are worth far more than the points earned, and if I switch my international purchases to a fee free card like BankWest, and my points earning to HSBC Premier for local purchases, I have the best of both worlds.