Yes but for now we're still emitting so much that we're effectively only reducing emissions. There's no real point until there are no more emissions to cut which is much easier and energy-efficient to do than capturing.

Trees are net-negative by larger margins than any other technology we have invented, pretty much any way you want to quantify it (efficiency per kilogram of tree/tech, efficiency per dollar of tree/tech, etc.).

Direct air capture is not the only way to lower CO2 levels, although you are right that point capture of emissions doesn't lower levels by itself. An example of another technique for CO2 reduction is enhanced olivine weathering, or bioenergy + capture. These are called negative emission technologies in general.