My assumption also took into account phone backups... which it sounds like you dont utilise.
In the extreme event of loss of your device you obtain a new device, log into your account and the phone downloads everything, seamlessly but only if your phone is set to backup automatically.
I never claimed that a physical card was unnecessary, in fact, like you I prefer the physical card myself.
By using your smartphone and the wise app you can freeze/unfreeze the card in seconds if you are wary of unauthorised use.
My wise card was recently hacked (not skimmed) wise picked up the activity and froze the card themselves before notifying me. I confirmed the 1 charge and 2 authorisations were not mine and they cancelled the card and sent me a new one.
I now freeze the card until I want to use it.
The hack was no fault of wise, its just computers generating numbers from what I understand.