1 Ihave a confession. Severalyears ago, I was standingin aqueue to collectsometheatre tickets for my family, and my friend was doing the same for hers. I gotmine, and paid for them by credit card, feeling contented by the convenienceof this cash- free transaction. It was then her turn to pay. The whole operationpassed as smoothly as mine, but my delight soon turned to abject shame. Mycredit card was a fairly pathetic, status-free dark blue, whereas hers was a veryexclusive gold one.