It’s Earth (and maybe some other planets) that doesn’t have money, the Federation has Federation Credits.
I imagine the use of replicators on recently established colonies is strictly rationed, what with their enormous energy requirements, and the fact that dilithium doesn’t grow on trees. Gotta have some medium of exchange in a scarcity society.
In DS9 it’s mentioned Sisko used all his transporter rations, so there are replicator and transport limits.
Sisko used his transporter allotment to visit his father while he was a first year cadet. It’s not about energy limits, it’s likely just an allowance for cadets, especially first year, to get them acclimated to structure and working within limits.
This could sort of like be an old post on r/DaystromInstitute about how holodeck time could be used as a currency between crewman, and also a tangible punishment.
Excuse me! We’ve moved beyond money.
Now you just have transporter and replicator rations and have to deal with money whenever trading or acquiring goods.
Way simpler.
Rewatching season 1 of tng right now. It’s so gloriously all over the place.
It’s our code of honor
