Irrational? Who said anything about irrational?
Take $20 or $40 in cash back from the debit and save it for the purchase of firearms and ammunition with cash. You go to the back and withdraw $700 in cash or write a check to Jimmy’s Gun Shop then they have you anyway.
I don't use ATMs, I don't use debit cards (I want to be forced to write down every expenditure from my checking account myself), I draw money out from my bank, not at the ATM in Joe's Bait Shop and Ammunition Emporium.
I don't even HAVE an ATM or a debit card.
As for leaving a paper trail, I would rather leave no trail at all.
I see no reason to let ANYONE know ANYTHING about me other than what I absolutely HAVE to, or those I desire to know.
A credit card company, a supermarket, the government, they are all entities that I don't have a desire to let them know any more about me than they absolutely HAVE to.
You're not paranoid if they ARE out to get you, and eventually, in one way or another, they will be.
Do you live in a bunker?
True..., and regardless of the steps you may take, extensive data on you has been accumulated and is readily available!