Is 'buy now, pay later' reshaping how we spend, or just repackaging old debt problems? The real issue might not be the payment method itself—it's what we're comparing it against. Traditional credit cards come with their own baggage: hidden fees, predatory interest, the whole system designed to keep you in the red. BNPL flips this around, focusing on transparency and zero late fees as a core feature. As AI continues to revolutionize shopping experiences, payment flexibility becomes crucial. The question isn't whether BNPL is good or bad—it's whether we're finally ready to challenge the credit card monopoly that's dominated consumer finance for decades. Different payment rails, same conversation about financial freedom and responsibility.