It's just part of a larger expansion of a program that simply happens to include Americans. I really don't think they care about us that much; we're not that special.

Seems like it's more so covering the costs of doing automated background checks or something like that. Like making sure you aren't on any bad lists so they can prevent you from arriving instead of having to deal with you when you're already there.

It's not technically a visa, Americans are still granted that upon arrival it seems.

While I know some people who have emigrated from the US, most people just whine without any backbone