The anti-tampering solution sounds like some trusted computing bullshit like on mobile where banking apps will refuse to run if your device has a custom rom or non-locked boot loader. This would be how anti-cheat software could continue to lock out linux.
The predatory credit cards in the US should be not legal. They are exploiting people who don’t have so called “financial literacy” and encourage wasteful spending.
In Europe the US style credit cards don’t really exist and people just have debit cards. Also there is a social safety net, so people don’t have to rely on keeping money in the bank for when they become unemployed.