For years, I resisted the rectangles of plastic that provided special deals to reward loyal patronage. Invariably, there was a bothersome form to fill out, and what with the AAA, the YWCA, the public library, Visa, Blue Cross and Blockbuster, I had enough cards in my wallet and in my life.
Enter the recession and I saw things differently. If Food Emporium was offering a break on orange juice, if Duane Reade, a New York drugstore chain, was prepared to give me a $5 coupon when I hit the 100-point mark (each point representing a....