On the contrary, the credit card companies love NFC, because they consider it to be far MORE secure than using a separate card.
1) You don't usually hand the phone to anyone else.
2) Even if you do, they cannot make a quick copy of your card or number.
3) You're less likely to accidentally leave it behind.
4) Quick pay is limited in the US to items under $50. Above that, you have to enter a PIN. This is MUCH better than with credit cards.
As with credit cards, you're not liable if your phone is stolen and you let them know as soon as possible.
Tell that to my daughter the mother and schoolteacher, who absolutely loves being able to use her phone all around Cape Canaveral to buy things just by putting it next to the usual credit card swiper. No fuss, no muss, no purse, no lost cards.
Would that make it less "gimmicky and dumb" in your mind if Apple added support for NFC?
It's definitely coming. Just think of the valuable targeted consumer info they'll get with each purchase. That's why Google is doing it.
You see, when Apple said they weren't getting into the search business, that was just handwaving so people wouldn't notice that they were getting into the targeted advertising business, which is Google's real reason to exist.
It's a good bet that Apple will also figure out a way to make even more bucks on it, by passing everything through iTunes and charging someone for it. Then we'll all have to pay more to merchants who're paying Mastercard AND Apple.
Apple's not dumb. NFC's potential for revenue is huge.
