I went there for work a few times back in the 80’s. It was a total shithole. Restaurants had no food as it was being hoarded to release for participants in an upcoming medical equipment exhibition. Cashew nuts, chocolate biscuits and whisky from the hard currency shop for 2 weeks.
Alas, I wouldn’t be able to sign into my email on a new device without getting- you guessed it - an OTC. Sent to my mobile!
As long as they have nuts, chocolate and whiskey I’ll probably like it. I have very low standards.
Whose rule is that ..I don’t have such rules on my behaviour with Gmail. .. .Now I know I would be unable to do internet banking without my phone beside me for biometrics ..but I can still use credit cards ..or could physically go into a bank. I departed from Apple at iPhone 4 and original iPad 2 , so cannot me aningfully discuss their ecosystem..but a mini iPad makes a lot of sense as your backup
I would like to think some things have improved over the last 40 years 
Let’s try an experiment. I’m with Gmail too.
Take a friend’s device and try signing into Gmail via the web from this completely new device with just your password.
I’m definitely asked for a code. I don’t know whether this is because 2-step verification has been activated on my account. Or whether it’s automatic now for everyone.
Yes, not being able to do banking worries me less. As you say, I could always use my cards. And even if these are stolen, I keep a spare hidden. And plenty of cash stuffed into the pads of my bra.
If I had a spare device already set up, I could sign into the banking apps with just a fingerprint or password. And freeze the cards.
Or if I didn’t have a device set up, I could always call the emergency number on a friend’s phone and cancel the stolen cards.
Oh dear Helen, so you cannot be sure if an approaching miscreant is after your money or… 
I live in hope, David.
I have exactly that behaviour if I log into any Google service, including Gmail, on a new device. It asks for confirmation on a previously used device.
I’ll remember that if I ever meet you but you can relax, you are certainly more than 15 kms away from me, my limit these days. 
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It’s a while since I have done that ..but occasionally I have disremembered whatever passwords I was last using ..and Google had a process . for activation which does not require a live other device … .A set of about or 10 sequences of numbers ..they are not passwords as such , but they re enable access … .I have them written down in a book . I think that once used that sequence can never be reused ..But it would be possible to go through the entire rigmarole and gets new set …I think I have used that at least twice ..the last time was only a number of months ago.