I agree with the directional sentiment of the article that a cashless society is bad for the poor and for other disenfranchised members of society.

I don't see the "many places will not accept cash" problem that the article suggests is widespread.

I'm in Shenzhen once or twice a month and haven't had any problem paying with cash - taxi drivers and vendors don't complain.

Vendors being unable to give change for 100 CNY bills was a frequent problem 10 years ago and is still periodically a problem. More often than not the solution is still the same as it was 10 years ago: insist that this is all you have. Half of the time the vendor really does have change and just didn't want to give it to you. The other half of the time the vendor really didn't have change and will ask a neighboring shop for change.