Aside from the fear of identity theft and the general fear of passing out personal information no matter the level of security, a valid point has been made that CC verification or any other besides the "yes, I'm 18 or over" button we all have to push would alienate a large group of posters.
Many people either can't get or don't want a credit card. I certainly wish I'd chosen the latter. After the verification process was implemented, those authors would go elsewhere and the same underage readers and writers would go right along with them.
It's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. (God forgive me for using that tired cliche.) Verification would rid us of the underaged, or the underaged without access to Mommy or Daddy's wallet, as well as alienating a large number of folks who have every right, and every wrinkle, to post their stories.
I say that if we have to pay taxes, concern ourselves with sun block, worry about our fiber intake, and consider purchasing skincare products emblazoned with the words "age defying", then we should get to post. Who's with me?