Great list. Can you elaborate on "Drop-down for expiration is a disaster and a huge regression from the status quo."? Are you saying the norm is to have it typed?
Yes, I prefer to have it typed. Credit card forms vary a lot, but the ones that are shaped like credit cards have usually just have 2 text fields with a slash in between.
For me: yes, absolutely, it's much much faster and less painful to type the four numerics than to click on drop downs.
you don't have to click for select boxes... just use tab and type the numbers...