I agree, configuration can and will be different. Just like I mentioned for example, we don't run the same number of replicas as Prod either etc. The staging e

I agree, configuration can and will be different. Just like I mentioned for example, we don't run the same number of replicas as Prod either etc. The staging environment or any other kinds of testing environments will also have the same issues of differing configuration. Always. So there's really no difference there. Since you mention credit cards, I don't know which PSPs you've dealt with, but there's a bunch out there, where you do _not_ get a separate URL for their test/staging environment. If you're lucky, you get test credentials and if you're not, then all you get is "To make a failed test transaction use 4111 1111 1111 111, any CVV, to make a successful test transaction, use same card with CVV 123". And these same PSPs tell you about PCI compliance and such.