[pbreit]

No, the opposite. A manual imprint is even more indicative of card-present than a mag-stripe read (which can be easily faked).

Reading QR or other codes with a smartphone's camera is extremely cumbersome whereas swiping a mag-stripe is simple and reliable.

[grandalf]

I totally don't agree with your assessment of what is simple and reliable. I've had the mag stripe fail on numerous hotel room keys and a few credit cards over the years. A QR code is readable even if somewhat scuffed, etc.

It would seem that with a small investment in a magnetic stripe writer and a plastic mould, any scammer could create cards that could fool an imprint swiper or magnetic stripe reader.

Further, wouldn't a signature make all of the above close to equivalent?

[pbreit]

I can't even remember the last time my credit card couldn't be swiped. What do you do to them?

True, but still even easier to duplicate a QR code.

Signatures don't help very much since the fraudster can sign his own fake card. That's why more stores are asking to see drivers licenses which is annoying.