Where the actual price of the physical product is so bad (high) they have to disguise it by letting you rent (er lease) the product for a few years before hoping to sell the product at a profit (or lease again) to the next schmuck.
If it's connected to the internet, the security will eventually be found to suck. The solution is air gap and private network (but even then, it's connected to a network between buildings so security will eventually be found to suck).
When learned abilities become mostly automatic. It's like riding a bike:D
But is it really multitasking or just specialized cell groups in the brain? sort of like a GPU(before they were general purpose inference machines), network chip, or math co-processor (remember those?).
The reliable way was always to write a paper check that is handed between the two parties in person. Both get to verify the amount and destination is correct.
With digital numbers it is so much easier and safer to be a faceless thief.
Sears was in trouble, but was put to death by Eddie Lampert as he relocated the land assets under the stores to his own holding company while spending nothing to attempt to keep the business competitive or operative.
Lease-backs never work out for those that originally own the land. Vulture Capital 101.
Should not be a thing, legally. A corporation should be created then it either survives or dies - no buyouts - no mergers. The current system of preventing monopolies isn't even used. If they can't merge you don't have to worry as much about enforcing (or not, as it is now) antitrust laws.