Have you asked them why they said that and gotten that answer? I have asked my close friends thats how i got my answers.
I have read and studied - that's how I've got my answers so far. People who are used to seeing magic have a different kind of perspective, so close friends may not be the most suitable control group for theoretical analysis.
Ambitious card is a routine not a single effect. Each phase is(should be) different.
I have not seen an entertaining ambitous card in a while,from a laymens perspective.
Can I ask you where have you learned Ambitious Card? Why should each phase be different?
Of course the method of each phase should be different and the routine should be constructed in a way that each phase cancels the other phases' methods out. The routine should have a single effect that is repeated: the card rises to the top. This is essential to a strong routine, that nowadays seems to be disappearing thanks to "magic teachers" who don't know what they're talking about. Now the routine seems to be that there is one signed card and it jumps to the top, to the bottom, disappears, changes, appears, jumps to pocket, jumps to wallet, appears to mouth, and so on. Anyone can be fooled if they are caught off guard. It doesn't take much skill to do this. People don't feel like it's magic if they feel like you only got away with something because they weren't looking for that. Yes, it could be surprising, but they feel cheated. And that's when people will want to see that again. Confusion is not magic.
Besides,spectators usually will always say "do it again!". Either they want to be sure of what they saw,figure out method or some other third thing.
I very rarely hear anyone to say that when I perform.