They never received the cards, I keep them, so there’s no danger of them ever using them on anything and they get the benefits of the higher score

Considering you're planning on putting $15K into the rehab, you could benefit by looking into short-term FNF/FNH financing options as well, if you don't have the rehab funds available.

I have some VA benefits.

Each strategy seems to have its pros and cons, and I’m curious what the community thinks.Do fix and flips provide faster returns, or do the long-term benefits of rental income make holding onto properties more appealing?

The benefits far outweigh what you get with a HEL. 

A dwelling unit does not include a unit in a hotel, motel, or other establishment in which more than 50% of the units are used on a transient basis.”)Benefits of a Cost Segregation StudyCapturing depreciation on STR property begins with a cost segregation strategy to maximize deductions.

If I understand this right, your 2 out of state LTRs have no connection at all to your LLC, so you aren't getting any benefits from the LLC there.

And while that feels slow and clunky, it's also a very good way for you to get familiar with your specific market and getting that in depth understanding has a lot of benefits to it.

Plus, many build-to-rent options come with property management baked in, which can be a huge benefit if you prefer a hands-off approach.On the flip side, BTR properties can sometimes come with a higher upfront cost or a longer timeline to start generating cash flow, especially if construction is still in progress.

You are probably thinking of a typical whole life where the goal is to get as much death benefit as possible for the money.