Decades is ages for most human beings 😁
I'm not an American but yeah that bs sure creeped over here after 2001.
Edit: you still need an ID (like a passport) to travel in the EU, it's just that no one cares if you don't take the plane or go to sweden.
That's just weeding out indies IMO. Any scammer can put up 100€ if he thinks his 1000 shit games will get him more.