"but paywave down here in OZ is very simple: If the transaction is sub-AU$100, simply bonk/wave your card and move on."
Would also be worthy to add that pay-by-bonk-NFC is reasonably widespread here. The larger stores are guaranteed to be capable, and smaller stores where their bonk box is reasonably (last few years) new.
Not only that, it's been available for at least several years (in usable numbers), so has gained some good momentum. I don't see Apple trying to get into the market, as they'll just be delivering what we already have, albeit with needing to take cards out of our wallets. But hey, who cares?
Heck, I've even seen people tape their cards to the back of their phones. Pay-by-bonk-by-proxy?
But even if that day comes, at $1300+ (vs an NFC card from your bank for nothing), nope, good value it aint.