Passport vs Passport Card???

[pinayreefer]

While the price difference is significant, passport - $135; card - $55
the restrictions associated with the card make it seem unwise to pursue that course. For sure you can go nearly anywhere with the passport but a card is not so flexible. Not sure why, as the same form is required for both.

[hellosailor]

"You can use Form DS-82 to renew your passport book at the same time that your apply for your passport card."
Actually, that's a bit wrong. If you attempt to "renew" a US passport before the expiration date, you will find that it is cancelled and replaced by a new passport good for ten more years. If you had a year left on your old passport? It is lost. You do not get ten more years, you lose any remaining time.
A bit greedy or simply unthoughtful on the part of the DOS, who tell us to renew early in order to avoid the waits (sometimes 3-4 months) when they get busy.
Right now the renewal time is about one month, and in typical efficient government fashion, your new passport, passport card, and returned old passport will be sent back to you in three separate mailings.

In Daffy Duck's famous words, "What a Maroon! What a Maroon!"