Why can't I use my ID without a payment card?

Question

Does anyone know how I can use my AppleID without supplying a credit card number? After my recent *fun* with Sony's security holes I AM NOT GIVING MY CARD DETAILS TO ANY COMPANY UNLESS I HAVE TO.
Apple - There is no reason to ask for it until I want to purchase! I should be able to use the app store and itunes store with out this first. I do not know how secure your code is. I expect that you put as much effort into security as every other company. In my experience that is as little as possible. So please don't take this the wrong way, but **** no I am not giving out my card details. I'll buy an iTunes card with cash and use that, thanks.

Answer 1

Excuse me? I haven't bad mouthed Apple's business model. I like it. I think the app store is a great idea and should make them and the developers into a community that works for the greater good. I'm not quite sure I see where you think I bad mouthed them, but if you can show me that I'd happily retract any erroneous statement.
I'm going to assume that you are referring to 'I suppose this goes to demonstrate the lack of a customer focus for their company.' For anyone that has been in IT since before it was cool and before the iPod revolution, they will remember and see that customer care is not Apple's strong point. Their strong points are excellent hardware, an excellent and efficient and secure OS. Every company has its good and bad points. Those of us that can objectively inspect and review these are the better off for the knowledge.
Also, I welcome intelligent feedback far better than blind optimism. In short my issues are:
1: Their docs say I should be able to sign-up and use the app store without supplying *ANY* financial information prior to wishing to purchase. This is as *any* shop.
2: Since the incident I have mentioned, I will not put my credit card details into any site. This should not prevent me from purchasing as I can obtain iTunes cards at any number of retail outlets pretty much anytime of the day or night.
I will admit that people suggesting with no concrete proof that I put my card details / PIN / personal information anywhere will arouse my frustrations. Although I should in some ways thank people that do because if there was only good advice I'd be out of a job pretty quickly. I'd actually have to go work for a living instead of being the one (usually) handing out the fix to people who have hit trouble.
My only reason for posting was to find any answer that met my criteria:
Accessing and using the App store.
Not inputting my card details or shelling out money until I want to buy.
I was not looking to be evangelised to. I have already bought a Mac. I love it. I love the interface. I love the long battery life. I love the wireless capability (good signal and speeds). It is however a tool to do what I want and not a religion. I personally pity those who are insecure enough in their choices to need to convince others of their opinions. You will notice that I backed up my comments with external references to ensure that this was not just my opinion. I would hope that this would make you read the articles and consider any effects this might have on you and your decisions. However beyond that if you are happy to supply your information that is your choice and I would respect that. It would be an informed decision. I would be happy to receive similar information from you. If you have any links like 'Apple's store unhackable, security tests show' etc I would be very happy to read those. If you have any links to a data retention policy from Apple I would also read it and weigh that in with my other deciding factors.
I welcome helpful and reasoned feedback. In fact the best answer on her I received was the 'There is no 'other way' you are deciding that you will not use Apples online stores because you disagree with their authentification methods, and that is your right.' comment which was accurate, informative and helpful if not what I wanted to hear / read. So far this is the approach that I have used to work around this issue. It would be nice to find an answer that did lead me to being able to use the app store in a way that makes me comfortable, but without cited references and details this seems increasingly unlikely.
You will have to excuse my skepticism with regards to security. As I have said this is my experience with large enterprises and Apple is most likely no different. It is not a comment on their business model. It is a comment more on the capitalist world and its nature to devote most of its money and efforts towards profits and share holders rather than its customers, community, employees, quality of products. It is not that Apple or any of the other businesses wouldn't like to, but it costs more and in this world that means the time and efforts go to the revenue streams security only costs companies money. Usually much more than they would lose otheriwse so it is secondary. It is not Apple's, or Sony's or any other corporations fault. It is ours as consumers and individuals. It is yours and mine for not demanding the quality. For not demanding the security. For accepting the capitalist world as it is. Now to dispell your assumptions that I am a communist (although that is much misunderstood anyway) I have my own businesses that are mature, with happy customers and I earn a good enough living. It doesn't mean I want to throw my hard earned away because I didn't take all reasonable precautions to protect it. Maybe you have enough money that you can just not care. Maybe it has come to you without effort. Maybe none of this is accurate. I have had to work extremely hard for mine. I would prefer to side with the safer option and perform my due dilligence before I choose another option.
Maybe you could share the information that you have that I am clearly missing. I would indeed like that and it might help me more than fatuous comments and unsubstantiated comments?