Comment Pain (Score 1) 210
I agree the Visa and MC programs are a pain. They come up so infrequently that I never remember what the password is. Plus with varying rules as to what constitutes an acceptable password, I can't even count on it using a password I'm familiar with.
If implemented like in Europe,though, you only have to remember the PIN. Which you use everywhere, so that's not an issue. There's a challenge-response part of the online purchase that generates a code to confirm you have possession of the card and know the PIN to validate the transaction. Yes, everyone has to have the little card reader available. I've only made a few online purchases with my European card, but they've all been that way so far.