recurring billing/contracts where always just a scam
Since this is an appropriate necrobump for once, I'll add that you can have automated billing in bitcoins too. It's just more secure and requires a touch more attention than the keys to your entire bank account.
billing contracts are just a scam way to get you to pay 10X the value for a goods n services
Sometimes. But they are regardless a part of the business model many people appreciate, and people want the convenience. I have no desire to sit down and have "bill day" as my father does to this day. Cheques and all.
Here's what I want, and what I'm in the middle of creating, for the best of both worlds:
A secure autobilling system for cryptos (really BTC but can be topped off with a couple alts; payout *maybe* also LTC). Will integrate with major wallet players (and any smaller ones who approach me). Uses windowing and P2SH. Can be as autonomous as users like. Default mode will be for, when bill day arrives, a push notification (or email/SMS as fallback) will occur requiring confirmation. This is only for preauthorized transactions.
Impact on user: Same as it is now with autobilling, except they must explicitly approve the pending TX. This feature can be disabled. Elevated modes where more than an "OK" can be enabled globally or individually.
Impact on merchant: exactly the same as autobilling. If the business model depended on revenue from careless users, that may make prices rise, but this seems in the interest of most users.