I have had a driver's license issued pursuant to the REAL ID Act in CA, NV, and now MP (the CNMI, see my profile).

As a renter, whose spouse and young adult sons were on the lease, we had no problems with the required documentation of our abode and SSNs.

Otherwise, it was not much more onerous than an initial passport application. It is good to have that out of the way.

I do empathize with those for whom these requirements are unduly burdensome or impossible. Some people have no choice but to get non-compliant ID.