If 2-D bar codes are essentially free to print (cost of paper and ink are neglig

Question

If 2-D bar codes are essentially free to print (cost of paper and ink are negligible) but can store a far amount of data, what is the appeal for RFID tag technology that:

Costs a few cents per tag even for passive tags

Often costs far more for specialized (i.e. writable and/or active) tags

Offers a somewhat dubious promise for reading inventory w/out the line of sight required by bar code readers that is often less than fulfilled due to technical challenges with RFID technology in certain environments

To put this question more simply, why not just use 2-D bar codes for tracking inventory instead of RFID tags?

I am not disputing the value of RFID tags for Asset tracking. I am questioning the business value of using RFID tags for inventory tracking.  

When and why would it make sense to RFID tags for inventory tracking instead of 2-D bar codes?

Explanation / Answer

The usability of RFID makes its different from the 2-D barcode. It provides the users with a variety of facilities which may be useful under certain contexts. Following is the list of situations when an RFID tag will be the preferred option over a 2-D barcode tag.

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