Originally Posted by battensea

There are plenty of US policies that are nonsensical, so that doesn't mean much.

Honestly, filling out an application for a visa (including getting passport photos and now having to get copies of documents such as birth certificates), paying a hefty fee, and often having to deal with other bureaucratic hassles (long queues, only being allowed to deposit applications between such and such hours on such and such days, etc) should be evidence enough of intent to travel.