Yeah, the auto change dispensers are helpful, but they don't generally give you bills back, so you still have to deal with a cashier for those.
A lot of places can process small to medium-sized credit card payments without a signature these days -- I think it depends on how much they're willing to pay the middlemen for the privilege.
It's the amount of risk they are willing to take. For instance, every pay at the pump gas station has some transaction limit per swipe. The station owner can set that to any amount they want. They typically set it to match the garanteed payment limit for unsigned charges. That way they get reimbursed even if a stolen card is used. Charges over that limit must have a signature and be authorized, to get the same guarantee. Or you swipe again.
Seperatly, There was a recent court ruling that the various card companies had conspired to fix merchant fees. One part of the fallout may be that merchants, will be free to offer discounts to customers paying with cash.
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