> VAT evasion is widespread in certain countries (like Italy for instance), and pushing people to prefer electronic payments to cash is empirically the only realistic way to counter it

The only realist way to counter it is to stop charging VAT.

> In a cashless society, there's no point in mugging and robbing, because people don't have untraceable items of value on the at all times.

Because all the valuable items are digital and hackers can steal your money without meeting you in person.