Rewards Cards: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Capital One Venture Rewards vs Starwood Preferred Guest AMEX

Hi all, I'm looking to start riding the rewards wave with one of the aforementioned cards. So far I'm leaning on the Chase Sapphire Preferred, mostly because of the ability to use the points not only on Southwest but other airlines, and because the points transfer pretty lucratively to SW RR program. It also seems better than SW RR Visa because when someday the wife and I take a nice European vacation, we won't be using Southwest for this.

Currently through reading thepointsguy.com and other websites, I am leaning on the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Does anyone have any experience with the above, and how did you maximize rewards?

Thanks!