I think there are some genuine benefits to be had (though reducing illegal immigration is obviously not one of them). I do think there’s potential for a much simpler ID system. One that includes people that don’t drive, and doesn’t include giving your address to a stranger via your driver’s license.

I have had issues with using cards in poor network areas, yes. It seems totally improbable to me that this system ends up using an exclusively online process for sharing ID.

Sure there’s potential that this will result in a mass surveillance system, and I obviously don’t want that, but I guess it doesn’t feel particularly novel. If you’re paying by card you’re logging all your payments anyway. The question on my mind is where you currently see government overreach with exising IDs? Why would a new form of ID guarantee any of that changing?

On your last question, I genuinely do hate handing over either of the existing IDs, as they do carry more information than the receiver generally needs.