It only "is what it is" with Amex.

No other issuer is randomly shutting down good customers' cards and demanding full access to IRS records, etc. Or canceling cards because they don't like where the person shops.

You can rationalize it all you want to, but at the end of the day there are plenty of other companies who will gladly take that customer's business and not behave in this fashion. He has every right to tell Amex to stuff it, and no reason to tolerate such behavior.

You know, if worse really comes to worse, then if I recall correctly they do make these little green pieces of paper that say "100" or "50" or "20" on them, and I bet you'll find they work just as well as a credit card.

I use credit cards purely because it's more convenient than cash. If it ever becomes less convenient than cash, guess what I'll use.