The cutting off a hand thing might be satire, but the threat of biometric data being replicated and used if its the only measure of authentication isn't. If we have the ability to read and scan palm prints, than the technology to replicate those prints into maybe a faux glove and trick this system isnt that far off i'd assume, right?

Comparing this system to, for instance a chip card reader, the palm print is significantly less secure because it uses a single factor (something you are) versus a chip which requires the customer to both have the card with the chip present for payment, and to know the PIN in order to authenticate. Or your phone for example, if someone steals your fingerprint (or even models your face), they still need to have your physical phone to unlock it. With this palm scanning tech, all you need is the palm and you can pay for anything anywhere because there's no secondary confirmation

Well maybe it's intended to be tongue-in-cheek, like "prepare for the zombie apocalypse, and you prepare for all catastrophic events."

Shirley being responsible for payment wouldn't be the first serious crime that one would have been the victim of if their hand were severed.