This may be a stupid question, so forgive.

Why would anyone get currency these days before travel? Especially when the rates are not desirable and/or fair? Would it not be better to simply use an ATM debit card, or something similar?

I have been told consistently this is the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to get foreign currency when abroad. My own banks only charge about 1% above the interbank rate for the transactions (and in my case, they do not charge fees to use foreign ATMs). Add to that the convenience of not carrying wads of cash, which is not very safe either.