You can also use a prepaid credit or cash gift card to create an account or pay for Apple content.
Perhaps this US centrism colors Apple's view as well?
You don’t need a card to maintain or get an Apple ID (unlike implied bythe default user flow, it’s possible to get w/o one).
You don’t need a card on an Apple ID to download free apps.
You even don’t need a card on an old account to use apps from that old account on the same device as apps from a new account, you just need to be able to provide valid credentials for both (seems like triggers when the device is trying to update the apps in question).
It's also worth noting that many companies with subscription services specifically block signing up with gift cards. I do not know if this would apply to Google Pay or not.
iTunes gift cards are readily available at common retail outlets, which take cash, and can be used for apps, iCloud, and the rest of it.
Sucks that GP got his debit card blacklisted, that would annoy me as well, but “bricked”? c’mon.
You are hyperbolizing. You can just use a different card. It's not like they killed your AppleID which wouldn't kill your phone regardless.