its like having my complete account balance and transactions in my debit card, instead of just the card number. sounds silly, can't understand why they are doing it.
PS: As to why you would want a device that can work without a network think terrorists taking down the network, classic government incompetence, or just lower costs.
On that subject, has anyone done the numbers on the number of people that would be saved by putting the same money spent on anti-terror bullshit into the NHS vs the number of people saved from terrorism?