agreed with your wisdom
if you could get breakout/trending spreads in place of call spreads , we could do better .You need options to run their profits to expiry for profitability
On breakouts I buy straddles , profit is made when you catch the big moves , by letting options expire .By closing early winners are cut for much poorer results .Old saying "make hay when sun is shining " In trading " ride the market tides fully , when you are on high tides ".