It does, but it seems a lot of folks don't know about it... The money is either transfered directly from the bank, or even mailed on your behalf as a physical

It does, but it seems a lot of folks don't know about it... The money is either transfered directly from the bank, or even mailed on your behalf as a physical check for those merchants who aren't set up to accept transfers like that. In either case, it's not necessary for you - the bill-payer- to write checks.