I hope we all realize that 'viable business models' in the world of finance requires merely that they last a few decades. Or at least until the oldest people forgot about the last scam / debt bust / ponzi scheme/ bailout / depression...
Secondly, assuming you're taking on risk, there's no reason at all you wouldn't be paid a fair amount of interest. I believe under the gold standard, government debt had a small but positive rate of interest, and other debt (and equity securities) were riskier and had a higher premium. (Graham and Dodd's Security Analysis)
But I agree that if you are just trying to save money without any risk, like people in the old days who just saved gold coins or paid off their mortgage, that's different and should not earn a lot or any interest. And trust banks at your peril.
Secondly, assuming you're taking on risk, there's no reason at all you wouldn't be paid a fair amount of interest. I believe under the gold standard, government debt had a small but positive rate of interest, and other debt (and equity securities) were riskier and had a higher premium. (Graham and Dodd's Security Analysis)
But I agree that if you are just trying to save money without any risk, like people in the old days who just saved gold coins or paid off their mortgage, that's different and should not earn a lot or any interest. And trust banks at your peril.