Requiring a work permit for EU citizens (like the UK did) is a better example of a bureaucracy designed to limit immigration but that doesn't generally fly with the EU.
It's pure madness. I actually run a blog documenting the (sometimes insane) German bureaucracy. It's not nearly as bad as people think, but things like getting an Ausländerbehörde (immigration office) appointment can be a real pain.
Fortunately, it has improved a lot in the last 3 years. The Settle in Berlin article is completely outdated.
http://allaboutberlin.com/guides/berlin-auslanderbehorde-sam...