1) Is it fair to include the word "silently" in this post's title? [I think so, especially since it's part of the original article and reflects the author's emphasis.]
2) Does the word "silently" make Stripe look sneaky and bad? [Yes.]
3) Is Stripe's level of tracking invasive? [Yes.]
4) Should Stripe have been more forthcoming about the level of tracking they practice? [Most definitely! In this age of data breaches, users-as-the-product, and sneaky, untrustworthy online companies, Stripe should DEFINITELY have been more open about this, and should let its payment-service customers know what they're signing up for, in clear terms. Fraud prevention is a desirable feature, but potential customers should also be able to weigh that against the cost of invasive tracking. Furthermore, as a payment-processing company which can make loads of money in a very straightforward way (through commissions), Stripe should be content to be just that, and should get rid of any ideas, visions, or TOS language involving payment-service-tracking-derived advertising. If Stripe wants to take the high road, they could consider adding a "no data sold to advertisers" canary in its TOS that can assure the privacy-conscious of Stripe's pure intentions--or warn them when an undesirable corporate change happens that may prompt them to look for a service more aligned with their own priorities. Personally, I'm tired of companies that want to take over the world and seek profit in every area at any cost. Sheesh!]