I never liked paying at the pump in Alberta, I didn't understand the 'pre-authorized' procedure at first, and then half the time the pumps didn't work and you had to go in and get the tellers involved anyway.
Went to BC for a trip this summer though with the motorcycle (fill up a lot) and there I got so I quite liked it. No standing in line to pay behind someone going through their lottery tickets or whatever, just pay and go outside, no need to go in the station at all. IIRC this is how it always was in Europe.
A difference from Alberta is that since BC made it mandatory the system generally works quite well, the only fiddle is with the rare older style pumps that are not set up for it, then you just give your debit card to the cashier ahead of time, pump until full, then go back in and run it through.