visa debit is a time proven system being used else where in the world long before canadian use .

i was using visa debit 12-15years ago in the uk and chip and pin 10 years ago, seems to me the banks are catching up.

I think that's the key, long before Canadian use. Interac Direct Payment (1994) has a 16-year head start on Visa Debit here (2010). I think many Canadians think of debit and credit cards as two different beasts because of the history.

I recall when I lived in Australia for awhile that I initially found it odd when I presented a Visa card and they asked "credit or EFTPOS?".

Depends on bank, I have TD Visa and Chase Mastercard. When they ask credit or debit, the only difference is putting in a pin (for debit)