"I don't know why our society hasn't realized that everything is X% more expensive specifically because of these [things that are required to pay for the service you're getting]"
There is no law that says money must be exchanged over credit cards that drain 3% from the merchant. Aside from checks, cash, and money orders, the Alipay example from the article shows that alternatives can and do exist. Europe also has credit cards, yet the government caps the fees far lower. It doesn’t have to be this way.