This is the way almost all RFID systems I have used work, including Tokyo, Taipei, Singapore, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Bangkok, Hangzhou, and the SF bay area.
The RFID cards, however, are far more durable than the flimsy MetroCards that NYC uses.
I keep all the cards from cities I visit though, since more often than not I end up passing through the city again within a few years. Some cities' cards unfortunately expire and eat all your balance, while others keep them for 10+ years.
It's really nice though to just land at an airport and be on your way in minutes without fumbling and getting in line.
On another hand I kind of miss the subway tokens that Boston used to use a long time ago. One of the advantages of tokens is that they are very much like NFTs in that if you have a token, it is a promise of a ride, any time, now or in the future. So you could also use them as an investment vehicle by buying 1000 of them, and the transit agency gets 1000 * (fare price) in liquid cash upfront that they can use to scale their infrastructure and make upgrades, while you can re-sell those tokens at a profit 4 years later. Or if you were arriving in Boston for college, you could buy enough transit ride tokens for 4 years upfront, if you were smart. Unfortunately with the RFID systems they don't usually pay dividends or interest on the balance on the card.
The RFID cards, however, are far more durable than the flimsy MetroCards that NYC uses.
I keep all the cards from cities I visit though, since more often than not I end up passing through the city again within a few years. Some cities' cards unfortunately expire and eat all your balance, while others keep them for 10+ years.
It's really nice though to just land at an airport and be on your way in minutes without fumbling and getting in line.
On another hand I kind of miss the subway tokens that Boston used to use a long time ago. One of the advantages of tokens is that they are very much like NFTs in that if you have a token, it is a promise of a ride, any time, now or in the future. So you could also use them as an investment vehicle by buying 1000 of them, and the transit agency gets 1000 * (fare price) in liquid cash upfront that they can use to scale their infrastructure and make upgrades, while you can re-sell those tokens at a profit 4 years later. Or if you were arriving in Boston for college, you could buy enough transit ride tokens for 4 years upfront, if you were smart. Unfortunately with the RFID systems they don't usually pay dividends or interest on the balance on the card.