Originally Posted By: Roger
I suspect that Microsoft points were originally a way to allow kids to spend money on Live without needing unfettered access to their parents' credit cards. This simple idea has since been corrupted by someone in a suit.

You could have an account preloaded with X amount of real cash if you want that though. The Microsoft Points idea is just an unnecessary abstraction. It isn't specific to Microsoft though as Nintendo also do the same thing with the Wii shop.