Increment vs. No Increment

I started playing about 4 1/2 years ago and hung between 1200 and 1350 for a couple years. I did win or place in a few arena tournaments, but that was more luck of the draw than it was improvement. I lost a lot of games by getting flagged with winning positions. So, I started playing 10+5 increment and pretty much have been climbing ever since. I bounce around 1550 now.
What I don't know is, am I truly that much better, or, are the better players playing 10+0 so my competition is weaker. Do you think a 1500 player that plays 10+5 is generally weaker that a 1500 player that plays 10+0? I am truly amazed at how many times I win games now with under 3 minutes left and my opponent still has over 6 or 7 minutes left on the clock.

Playing with an increment improves game quality. You and your opponents have more time to think and you're less likely to lose to premove maestri.

No increment creates an alternative win condition: flagging.
That detracts from the pure win condition to checkmate.

@BGW5422 said ^

What I don't know is, am I truly that much better, or, are the better players playing 10+0 so my competition is weaker. Do you think a 1500 player that plays 10+5 is generally weaker that a 1500 player that plays 10+0?

The longer the time control, the fewer players there are, so ratings are not that stable. I find 10+0 to be really tricky for time management. You need to spend time to find good moves, but you can't spend too much time thinking or you'll get into time trouble. If the position is somewhat equal it's usually good practice to not get behind on time unless you think your opponent is playing too fast (many people are blitzing through those time controls when you get good results by actually thinking and not minding having less time, just like you said).

With 10+5 you have more time in general and have little worries of flagging if the position is clearly winning.

@BGW5422 said ^

6 or 7

You couldn't resist, could you?

"With 10+5 you have more time in general and have little worries of flagging if the position is clearly winning."

• For many players 5 seconds is not enough to find the move that wins. 15+10 may be better.

rapid i like increment blitz both is fine and bullet no increment i like (my opinion) i am truly only 10+5 player 2100 soemthing in it i am much worse in no increment fomrats,1900 i estimate

No increment: You don't learn to play endgames.
Increment: You have no time in the endgame, so you don't learn them either.

@tpr said ^

No increment creates an alternative win condition: flagging.
That detracts from the pure win condition to checkmate.

So you’re saying 30+0 and 60+0 would definitely create flagging?

"So you’re saying 30+0 and 60+0 would definitely create flagging?"

• Yes, even 120+0.
  Even if it does not lead to flagging, it may cause blunders for fear of flagging.