[ikeboy]

>For me, the "free" service of a credit card is not worth my neighbors being saddled with debt.

Fine. But that means you'll pay an average of 2-3% more for items.

>Instead of large chunks of their income going to credit card companies (via interest), it could instead be spread out among more stores.

Yes. They would gain under a new system. People who are responsible now would lose under that system. It's a transfer , with credit card companies taking a cut.