EQUNAX'S PROFILE

It is an Interesting thought, a game with no currency. While a currency system does bring some undesirable side effects as you listed. It does add some depth to the game in the form of decision making. Such as do I want to upgrade a couple pieces of equipment or should I buy that uber spell? This will give the game more replay value potentially, because they can choose to spend their money different equipment, instead of being limited to what they find..

However there is a catch, the game must carefully control the flow of money the player receives. You don't want money just getting thrown at them, so they never have to make a decision with it. And likewise you don't want to make money so scarce that it becomes a grindfest, just to use the inn. Like you said in some games players will have an excess of worthless money at the end. Game creators can add large purchase novelty items to maybe make a reward for massing their coffers.

In the end games can benefit or be hurt by a currency system and its up too the creator to match his game with an appropriate system.