so if i know that you have a confirmed reservation at a given hotel, i should be able to walk up to the check-in desk and say i'm you and get the room? that don't make much sense...

i agree with not arguing hypotheticals, but perhaps you are assuming too much...

as much as it is the staff's job to accomodate to the traveler's needs, if the travelers can just be a bit more accomodating (instead of saying, it's silly to require having a photo id) perhaps the situation would have been resolved more smoothly