"if maybe they had a universal no-pin needed, load anywhere use anywhere kind of card I could get on board"

Um, isn't that called money?

And I'm with you on the proliferation of the store card. I like the Starbucks one, but perhaps that is because they got in early and completely brain-washed me. Or because it is for small transaction amounts that I make frequently and where the use of a debit card often seems silly and a hassle. And maybe for the odd gift. But really, who would buy a Thrifty's store card?