Originally Posted by
g289t
While this sounds bad, it doesn't seem to be such a big problem in real life. If it was, the feature wouldn't exist. It is standard in the US, and the US uses credit cards very heavily. The credit card companies are liable for unauthorized charges, and they'd stop it in a hurry if it cost them.
PIN has tended to be mandated at a government level in the countries that have it, though. And when signature does happen, it's scrutinized a lot more heavily than it is in the US (where it might as well not be asked for).