While I appreciate the backstory, I don't really see how this is an argument for not being 10 years behind Stockholm. I mean EC cards are a good idea, but they

While I appreciate the backstory, I don't really see how this is an argument for not being 10 years behind Stockholm. I mean EC cards are a good idea, but they aren't internationally viable nor even everywhere in Germany. Now when EU has regulated the fees other cards will start showing up. Mastercard/Visa is everywhere in Sweden (many stores have their own cards too of course), you really don't need cash. Privacy is of course laudable, but this seems more to be conservatism towards technology than actually implementing something different. If you would have said "we have this anonymous electronic payment system that works everywhere" I would have believed you. I've still had DB tickets in an app, so it's not like it doesn't exist.