What he said. The government isn't guaranteeing NR deposits out of concern for the welfare of NR customers. If NR goes under it'll effectively cost the government much more than this anyway, and by making the guarantee the government reduces the chance that it will happen. In most scenarios this ends up either neutral or saving the government money.

As for Farepak, I'm all for upping the government's spending on welfare and charity, but it seems to me there are more effective ways they could spend a few million to help people who'd otherwise be screwed than by compensating Farepak's customers. (Better that than nothing, I guess.)