Credit card transaction fee percentages have remained about the same for quite a while, so the overhead for businesses running cards has not really changed. And interest rates for carrying a balance change all the time, but I have never once in my life paid said interest because I pay my balance off every month. That’s the only responsible way to use credit cards.

In any case, credit cards aren’t going anywhere for the time being. So if you’re in the US or some other country where they’re prevalent, you can participate or not. That’s your choice. But you’re paying for it anyway, as you yourself pointed out.