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It is correct that small offline purchases will not work because the payment needs to be authorised online. However there is a move towards online authorisation for all transactions, but the larger point is that there a number of tools and functions available from the card schemes and card issuers that when combined with a smartphone can be used in interesting and innovative ways to put the decision making power firmly in the hands of the end user. 

Not quite, this needs to be done in conjunction with the issuer. If the issuer participated then it is possible to allow the user a range of options including block and unblock the card ( useful when you lose it down the back of the sofa), block by channel, i.e. block online transactions or ATM withdrawals etc. plus block by country, or easily inform the bank you are traveling and so they dont block it. Also set budgets, group spending by categories etc etc.

No problem, because the plastic card would be blocked using the app.  (we (Vipera) built the app for iBe, so the idea is that the App blocks selected payments or channels on the plastic card.