instead of signing. If you have a card physically stolen, you can call and cancel it. Or punch the person trying to steal your wallet in the nose.

But most fraud happens online. Online shops use address and/or ZIP code to verify the card instead of a signature. If you show a DL and your credit card, you've just given a sales clerk all the info needed to use your credit card online, or sell the info to someone who will. There's a good reason why cardholder agreements generally prohibit asking for ID.

There is also the requirement by the issuer that the card be signed. Otherwise, it does create a loophole for the issuer to render the other provisions of the cardholder protection, like the limitation of liability for fraudulent use, void.

Risk tolerance.

There is no way to win with credit cards. I have all but quit them entirely. It is easy for me because it has been years since I gave up the airport-rental car-hotel lifestyle.

I still like my debit card but it is not flawless either. I get a new number regularly.