[olyjohn]

Then you can just write it down. You don't have to use the imprint, it's just to help reduce error and make it a bit faster.

[rtkwe]

There's a secondary point to the carbon copy machine. It proves the person possessed and presented the card which is a level of proof against fraud.

[extraduder_ire]

Maybe prove in a legal/compliance sense. It's not too complicated to emboss numbers and letters onto a plastic card.