In TNG, Picard says that the Federation has evolved past a need for money. Indeed, we never see any.
In DS9 though, Quark talks a lot about bar tabs and costs. Surely O’Brien and Bashir don’t get free drinks, so how do they pay? I’d assume that any Ferengi worth his lobes won’t accept anything that can be replicated, so do Federation officers get a stipend of tradeable “value” when interacting with cultures that still expect payment?
I think there’s also a reference to Quark paying rent to Sisko for running the bar. Presumably that’s denominated in latinum. I wonder where it goes? Maybe the secret “Garak black ops” fund.
I’m 99% certain quark wasn’t paying rent after the federation took over? Wasn’t there some point where he started getting pissy about something and Sisko threatened to start charging rent?
That happened at least once, when Quark’s employees formed a union and went on strike. I believe Sisko went to that well a number of times when Quark crossed a line or refused to do something important.
Really, it makes sense. Quark is profiting hugely from the Federation’s willingness to not only give him a bunch of business but also not collect on some key expenses. That’s a great business arrangement, but also gives the Federation leverage over someone they wouldn’t otherwise have any trust in.
Yes! Thats it! Sisko put is foot down over that strike and said he could start demanded rent if he wanted too.