You are correct. But it still signifies intent. Just like illiterate people use an "X" for their signature, even if their name isn't X.

No it doesn't signify intent. The signature on the slip should match the signature on the back of the card. This is how the retailer knows the purchaser is the authorised user of the card. So unless the card as a poop emoji in it the card holder can deny the transaction based on non-matching signatures.

I use X every time and only once was I stopped (Home Despot).

>I use X every time and only once was I stopped (Home Despot).

Just like sometimes you get a clerk who won't take a $2 bill. Nothing will ever trump human ignorance.

X is a legal signature, they can't choose to not accept it.

They can refuse your transaction for whatever reason they want, it's their business. If you give off any vibe that the card might be stolen, then a business can turn you down whether or not what you were doing was technically correct.

> Except you can literally draw a poop emoji as the signature and it’ll be happily accepted.

Not in my experience (Europe). Signature must match the one in the card, and cashiers check it most of the times.