Never underestimate the power of cultural inertia. This affects Europe too with payments. I was just in Germany again recently. I was staying in a short-term a

Never underestimate the power of cultural inertia. This affects Europe too with payments. I was just in Germany again recently. I was staying in a short-term apartment and instead of being able to pay at the reception by credit card, I had to go to the local bank, get cash from the ATM, then fill out a giro transfer form and hand it to the bank employee, who processed it by hand. Then I had to go back over to the reception at the apartment and hand them the receipt so they'd know they had been paid before I left. Although Germany has greatly increased its acceptance of credit cards, etc, this kind of thing is incredible frustrating when you run into it.