The costs you mentioned, though they sound physically imposing, do not approach the 2% gross on all transactions charged by card issuers. In addition, with cas

The costs you mentioned, though they sound physically imposing, do not approach the 2% gross on all transactions charged by card issuers. In addition, with cash, there is another abstract (collective) benefit. It is anonymous. An entity can neither trail a single dollar bill as it moves through individuals, nor arbitrarily prevent certain individuals from spending. Electronic forms of payment are less free and less secure from a very broad social standpoint.