Credit cards are just the easiest and safest way to buy things. You know it and I know it, so don't be ridiculous.
It is Bitcoin that seems to be held (by some) with such divine reverence that to even mention that it has some shortcomings is blasphemy here.
Also, to describe me as a critic of Bitcoin is an unfair and inaccurate characterization. I am a Bitcoin supporter. I just have a more realistic view than most.
I wouldn't go so far as to call you a critic. But if you think the point of bitcoin is to compete with credit cards... then you've really just missed the idea entirely. The entire issue with credit cards, chargebacks and selling online is "fraud prevention". Businesses (especially small business) hate the risk involved with accepting credit cards. The potential for the business owner to be left holding the bag on a bad transaction are huge.
One of the main reason that btc will gain traction vs credit is that you can't do any sort of chargeback. It removed 90% of the risk involved for the vendor. Yes, currently there may be more risk relative to the floating price of btc - but that becomes less of a concern as it gets more users and becoming more commonly accepted.
Before you discount this idea see american express... they came late to the card market and they charge higher fees (yearly) than most credit cards and they penetrated (and now dominate) the card market based solely on being a non-credit card.