It's easier for me since now I don't have to be kiasu and look for the cheapest MSP deals and my credit card details are with MS - so it works more like steam, the disadvantage is you don't get the deep discounting when buying MSP. Convenience wise its great.

I'm on the beta and on the more expensive UK marketplace. I bought Charlie Murder yesterday at 6.99GBP inclusive of VAT which works out at roughtly RM35.50 compared to 10USD/RM33 - I'm not sure whether there's a sales tax for US purchases but if there is, it's supposed to be added on after check out. In any case, I'm not losing sleep over RM2.50

Also.. that 0.02 cents will be used against your next purchase. I don't see why you have to store value on your account now. Just pay when you actually want to buy something.

I've been using my Malaysian credit card for my xboxlive account for more than a year now. I'm not sure if you still need to input a UK/US/SIN address when you input your card details but that's what i did when i registered my CC.

Also, I get the impression that using a credit card is better than a debit card due to better online fraud protection.

That sounds about right, the way the system is supposed to work is that you select the credit card paying option (or your default option) and then before the final confirmation button for payment comes up, it would then give you the option to offset any balance you have on your account against chosen method of payment - at least that's how it was working during the beta. My oustanding balance was never shown except upon checkout. This was on the dashboard, never tested on the website.

I'm not sure what you're doing differently.

This is a step by step of what happened when i tried buying bully from marketplace on console. Cost came up at 2.99gbp on the purchase button. pressing that will give you your cc details and an option to confirm payment. upon pressing confirm payment with my visa details etc, a dialogue box will pop up asking if i wanted to use the remaining 1.70gbp balance in my account.

Theres nothing stopping me from spending the balance remaining in your account. (Apart from stupid region lock). As far as i can tell, outstading balance is automatically offset.

Yes, but I'm sure it the doesn't make a difference