As a Brit I was surprised when I received a reply on Twitter to a blog post I wrote [0] that said:
...in Germany nearly 80% of transactions are still cash - lots of places that simply don't take cards
Reading this thread that now makes more sense. We have it pretty good in the UK with contactless and chip & PIN (although I hear the Dutch have it better). I always feel the US is so backwards when I visit and they do the stripe & sign thing.
However, I still think there are many reasons cash should always be accepted. I won't repeat them here as they're covered in the post.
The standing joke here is that Germany is a "developing" country when it comes to payment. 10 years ago it would even be difficult to pay with an international credit card.. In Sweden bank transfers are immediate if I use "Swish" and I use cash maybe once a month.
Here in Norway I use cash only at a loppemarked (literally flea market but generally in support of a charity, the local brass band, or sports club). Even these now have payment terminals more often than not, just not enough to go around so it is still quicker with cash.
However, I still think there are many reasons cash should always be accepted. I won't repeat them here as they're covered in the post.
[0]: https://unop.uk/do-you-accept-cash/