When my bank account got drained, I could not pay rent or any bills. I had enough cash for about a week of food. It took 4 weeks for the bank to decide I could be made whole. Ever since then I have never even put a debit card in my wallet. I know what the laws say. I have read endless "well banks usually[...]" type messages. and yet all the same I one day awoke to find myself transformed into a giant cockroach.

You can reverse the charges on debit cards, but the money is withdrawn at the time the charge is made. This is not the case for credit cards.

Why do you think they’re pointless?

Well good for you. Us poors in the US like them for what they’re worth.