The late great FReeper Dale Reed, who had plenty of cash but didn’t want or have a credit or debit card, told me about getting air line tickets for his wife and himself paying by check through a travel agency.
When they reached their destination, they tried every car rental place and not a single one would rent them a car unless he had a credit card. Not even when he offered to pay the price of the car, in cash, as a deposit.
I thought it was illegal to not take legal tender.