> It's useful with children. A concrete representation of value is tangible compared to an abstract number in a bank account.

I hear this often, but I'm not at all convinced it's true.

And even if it were: Children will eventually grow up and have to manage their non-cash finances at some point. Why not teach them early?

I've had a checking account and debit card since I was 10 years old, and subjectively this has only contributed to being able to treat "abstract" and physical money as exactly the same from a budgeting point of view.

> It's great for gifts

For in-person gifts. Sending it in the mail is usually a bad idea, as I've personally experienced too often in my life.

Also, at least in the US, there seems to be some weird stigma against cash gifts that's created a huge industry of Visa/Mastercard gift cards with horrendous fees and a high chance of falling victim to some kind of scam.

> I've had a checking account and debit card since I was 10 years old

I dare you to teach a 4 or 5 year old to use one!