I think it is illegal here not to accept cash (legal tender) but my sister was telling me about a large shop in Sydney where you had to go to a special counter down the back if you had cash as the registers in the main shop only took cards.
There are no passbooks for new accounts now but my sister use to have to take an elderly cousin's passbook in and have it updated every month or so. My cousin would not accept anything else. It was a bit of a hassle. I think poor people here have to have bank accounts as I do not think they could receive any government payments without one.
My last night in Vancouver in 2017, I paid cash for my dinner (I wanted to get rid of Canadian money) and the middle aged waitress said to me "Oh cash, no-one uses cash anymore"
Again back in January 1977 I caught the train from Venice to Innsbruck. It was delayed by snow blocking the pass. I got rid of all my Lira before leaving Italy as you did in those days. I checked into a B&B in Innsbruck but the lady could not cash my travellers cheque until her husband came home. I had not had any lunch and walked around the town for an hour or so looking longingly at restaurants. Finally went back to the B&B and the husband cashed my cheque and I had a lovely big Wiener Schnitzel. Been a favourite meal ever since.

How much easier travel is now, not only the Euro in most countries but ATMs everywhere.