So five star hotels don't have... security? cameras? How can someone move something big like a mattress or a tv out of the hotel without being noticed?.. That's a horrible security mistake on the hotels' side!
"Are those assholes stealing a mattress?", "Yep. Should we stop um?", "Nah, its probably some crazy rich asshat that'll complain to management about suing for harassment. We will just blacklist the name on the card from the room missing a mattress."
Hence, checking IDs and credit cards at hotels to make it easier to ban people.
I'm surprised hotel chains don't have a nationwide blacklist.
I can't imagine going somewhere and having to use the swipe. Even some dinky rural bodega will have a swanky touch screen EFTPOS machine. I am thinking the banks must cover the cost.
Rented, like your cable box. I'm not sure who funds the initial cost of new equipment, but as a retailer you'd just get new units in the mail.