I've tried explaining this to so many people convinced they need to buy a metrocard or download some app. you don't even need apple/android pay. LITERALLY ANY RFID/TAP ENABLED CARD WORKS.

I think the only real benefit to the physical card is if you need to pay for it a special way like with pre-tax benefits or other monetary assistance, and you don't want to rely on your phone battery never going dead. Outside of basically that one condition, you can either use the OMNY app and reload however you need to, or just use any tappable credit card and get the discount if you use it enough.