Originally Posted by
GUWonder
Wishful thinking above, aimed for an audience susceptible to paranoia and morality policing.
The fact is that all those questionable type of characters mentioned above can readily buy prepaid debit cards at stores or even self-service standalone kiosks. A record of their identity can be the same whether they are using cash or a bank card of sorts. Prepaid debit cards are issued by banks too.
And the fact is that prostitutes, drug dealers, junkies and criminals use credit cards too.
I thought prepaid debit cards had some restrictions around pre-authorizations (which is what most hotels do on check-in)? You'd need to use an actual debit or credit card, which as you mention, a lot of people have.