Not sure what the exact rules are in the US....here in Canada, credit card debt is considered unsecured...that is, lender beware. Certainly, you should always pay your debts, if nothing other then the moral obligation to do so.
But if you cannot, and you're in debt to credit card companies, they cannot come and take any of your assets. Of course, you would probably be inundated with phones calls all day from collection agencies.
Not sure if they have them there, but here we have credit counselling agencies...essentially wht you do is provide them with all your debts, and they call the debtors,tell them you can't pay, and ask if they are willing to accept a lower settlesment. The companies (especially if they are credit card companies, and thus, no claim to any assets) almost always agree (of course, if they have security against the loan, this prob wouldn't work....they'll just come and take your security). Anyways, the agency gets the best deal you can, and totals it all up, and gives you one monthly payment (usually much lower then you were paying).
You pay teh counselling agency directly, they obviously take a cut, and then they pay the companies you owe money too.
I would not declare BK unless you have absolutely no other choice.