Your last paragraph has me thinking it's a world I really don't want to be in. 'Obeying the (digital) system'..... F.... that!!!!
You're right though, it may one day get so bad that things that can't be eaten (or at least be a luxury of some kind) will be of no value. Especially to people or communities who baulk at 'obeying the system'. Money, gold, silver, etc may be useless. On the other hand imagine what a bottle of whiskey, toothpaste or batteries might be worth in a bartering system.
