The problem would be greatly simplified if people kept a private record of all the services they use (or at least, the major ones), with login and password details. Have the list secured away somewhere, to be given to next of kin at time of death. That way they can be managed properly by whoever has to deal with the estate.

Take Vista/7 OS for example. Is there a reason to have both 32 and 64 bit versions of all six (think there are that many) SKUs???

If MS had vision, it would have simply made Windows 7, all versions, complete 64 bit, and forgot about backwards compatibility when it didn't make sense; no 32 bit version. It would have solved all sorts of problems going forward. 32 bit is going away in the next year or two anyways. AND the only reason 32 bit exists is for "backwards compatibility".