somehow this country never stops to amaze me (with how stupid you can do things just because that's how it's always been)....

or no ID cards because then 'big brother' would know everything but highest cctv density in europe (if not world), having to tell landlord my whole life history and give him all my personal info (including exactly how much i earn).... took me longer to get a uk bank account than in the (communist!?) people's republic of china (as a foreigner) because I did not have a utility bill with address on (get a freaking central register and id numbers, works everywhere else).
sorry about ot rant... having lived in few countries I just see stupid things much clearer because I have seen how it can be done better (Finland, get national ID number, change your address and give your id number, all your banks, insurance etc get notified and start sending stuff to correct new address => less chance for fraud etc)...
still amazed how much sh!t people take (not just here thou) ...