Before debit cards, most people probably paid cash for many routine transactions. Before debit cards were so common I’d typically withdraw $200 for walking around money, but that’s now more like $40 since I use a debit card routinely.
It’d be easy to return to carrying more cash to pay for routine transactions if debit fees seem out-of-line.
TD Bank has now eliminated its ATM-fee reimbursement for “senior” accounts—which means those least able to do so will now have to walk through blizzards or extreme heat to get to the bank, or else carry lots of cash and become the prey of muggers.