[Domenic_S]

I can relate to your feeling, and this ONE WEIRD TRICK will greatly increase your positive feelings: get a credit card with no fees that you pay off every month. Once I got my Amex, I never again wondered if that swipe would go through -- it just does, every time. That of course comes with its own set of problems (ahem, budgeting).

[jldugger]

Doesn't really solve OP's problem of forgetting their card, or my own of 'the network is down.'

[dbaupp]

A lot of the world is moving/has already moved to chips in cards and PINs. However, this comes with tap-to-pay/PayPass (for low-value purchases at least) which removes the need for a PIN in some cases.

(That said, it sounds like the person you're replying to is in the US.)