1: Why can't people follow rules.. I am 100% sure that the few athletes that these programs are "squeezing" in do not make much of a difference on a team of 30.
2: I like the birth certificate/photo idea. Doesn't solve the forging issue which is probably a bigger problem the USASF but at the same time, at world level competitions especially, could be a check in like an airport... so you would go off the list, check off the team member... I dunno, just a thought.
3: I like this topic, you are right, just some healthy discussion :)