> There simply are not many NFC enabled terminals in retail stores which makes the technology dead on arrival for in store purchases.

Retailers in many cities in Asia already are using wireless card payment. NFC is the defacto standard used. I can see Apple including NFC out of no choice if it wants to enter these markets for its mobile payment. Also there is suggestion that iWatch will communicate with iPhone 6 via NFC instead of bluetooth. Also there is an NFC chip in rumoured leaked iPhone 6 parts photo.