This is exactly right. The capability to do identity proofing via the USPS is in the code and available on GitHub for you to browse.

I would rather show up at the local post office in order to verify my identity. Such a matter common in another country where I have lived.

This is starting to happen. I had to do this for NIH recently.

Or it would be happening absent the recent chaos.

I can't imagine many people agreeing with you here.

You need to be (a) able to walk and drive, (b) in driving distance to a post office and (c) able to work around the post office's opening hours and (d) willing to waste the time to drive/line up etc.

Or you can spend less than a minute to upload a photo of your passport.

I think the objection is more that ID.me should be ID.gov.

Which is great until someone impersonates you by spoofing a photo of you that satisfies “liveness” detection. It’s a lot harder to AI up an animated image in person at a post office.