There is one and only one benefit of debit over credit. If you are unable to control your purchases, debit is the way to go. If you are cabable of controlling your own purchases, then credit is equal or better in every possible measurement. Thus, debit is an extremely stupid way to go for the majority of people.
[*]Protection. Credit cards must give you legal protection by federal law. Debit cards sometimes voluntarily give some or all of those protections - with the provision that the protections can be withdrawn at the bank's chaotic will. Travel out of the country and debit card protection is non-existant while credit cards are still quite safe. And all of this is with less hastle than a debit card. With a CC you never pay for a disputed charge until the dispute is resolved. With a debit card, you pay for the charge immediately and if you win the dispute you will eventually get your money back.
[*]Building credit. Using a CC wisely will build credit and save you thousands over your lifetime in lower car payments, lower house payments, and lower insurance payments. Using a debit card does nothing for your credit. It as if you don't exist.
[*]Freebees. Debit cards with free stuff are few and far between. And when there is free stuff, it is often quite meager. Credit cards will routinely give you 1-2% cash back and even up to 5% cash back (but with a limit). That is like getting everything you ever buy on sale. Don't buy into the hype of airline miles or car discounts - free cash is almost always the better deal.
[*]Emergencies. For short term (<6 weeks) emergencies, a credit card is the best way to go. Free 0% loan for up to 6 weeks whenever you want. That beats the hell out of those check cashing places that charge 200+% interest. For a long term loan, see a bank instead of a CC though. Otherwise you risk violating the big rule of credit cards: pay it off in full with every bill otherwise you will usually let your spending run out of control.
[*]Other stuff. I guess you can lump these as a combination of protection and freebees, but they are slightly different. These are more variable and don't apply to all credit cards. But you may get things like free travel insurance when flying, free car insurance when renting a car, free price protection if the price of things you buy drops in the near future (you can call and get the lower price on a few credit cards), easy returns (it the merchant's burden to prove that it is your fault with a CC, with a debit card it is your burden to prove that the merchant is at fault), etc.
