Sounds like they just don't want to give up the consumer data. Based on that premise, I wonder how many consumers actually concerned with privacy will use the alternate tools. Seems like a reason to stick with cash or simply avoid those retailers.
BTW, there are solutions for online transactions (Abine's MaskMe, for example) but AFAIK these can't take advantage of "near field".
EDIT: Geek has some details on how CurrentC works..
http://www.geek.com/mobile/retailers-stop-apple-pay-and-google-wallet-working-want-currentc-to-be-the-future-1607802/Basically, these retailers are simply going to keep NFC disabled completely and go back to QR codes. 2007, anyone? I also like the last sentence of this article:
"It’s not a matter of if people will use this service, it’s a matter of when and how often."
Never and never.