I don’t know why anyone would think this is so alarming. Credit card issuers and brands like Visa and MasterCard get a processing fee (for the card issuer) and an interchange assessment (for the brand) from every credit card transaction, so they have a big financial stake in getting as many people as possible to stop using cash.
If you pay cash, the restaurant doesn’t have to pay that processing fee. I’d rather they keep the money than have to pay the bank to get it.
The stories I just looked at said Visa was offering 10 grand to 50 eateries, a combination of restaurants, truck stops, and food carts to go cashless. Interesting that Visa went with the small fish. I’ve had 3 credit cards hacked. I’ll stick with cash for restaurants. If the eatery won’t take cash, it won’t get my business.
And, FWIW, I do find the war on cash scary. Very.