not angry i am not personally out of pocket. and i admit that I myself have used a dormant/closed CC myself, but only on flex pay on day of checkin rates.

In certain countries a debt is a very serious matter, eg Dubai. Swiss hotels have been known to obtain court orders and passengers entering/transitting Switzerland years later haave been arrested for hotel debts

If room rate went up and you had "accidentally" provided a non-chargeable CC (expired, new card from bank, too few funds) you would want (maybe even expect)hotel to honour the booking if you quickly realised and quickly supplied a good CC

Feel free to be unethical and book again at cheaper BAR rate at same hotel for same room on same day providing a valid CC , but at same time be prepared for hotel to hold you liable and charge you for both advance rate non-cancelable bookings.

Certain rofessions you could end up being prevented from working in, eg law, banking and in my mind taking such risk/chances is just not worth it for he small sums involved