> My guess was that you wouldn't use one of the existing solutions if you wanted to obfuscate the connection between the payment and the product. And it is just a guess, I have no investment in it being "the actual reason" or being right about my guess, just speculating here.
I think you're on to something here. Much like cryptocurrencies, I'm thinking that the most important uses here are at best questionably legitimate. Very few honest and above-board businesses have an interest in obfuscating what's being sold like this, but quite a few less legitimate ones do. Hit a URL to send money? Sounds great for money laundering, fraud, or extortion when you can move money around using convenient services and the veneer of legitimacy.
I think you're on to something here. Much like cryptocurrencies, I'm thinking that the most important uses here are at best questionably legitimate. Very few honest and above-board businesses have an interest in obfuscating what's being sold like this, but quite a few less legitimate ones do. Hit a URL to send money? Sounds great for money laundering, fraud, or extortion when you can move money around using convenient services and the veneer of legitimacy.