You only do bank loans, mortgages, lines of credit and the like a few times per year.
Your ID is demanded so often in the USA there is even a hand signal for it that everyone knows (a C shape made with the right hand held up at eye level).
In Europe we aren't asked IDs but usually email/phone numbers and that's for marketing reason (spamming and being able to identify customers cross businesses).
I routinely refuse to provide ID when asked by private businesses. About half the time they're OK with proceeding with whatever without it.
There are however many, many things that you are simply entirely barred from doing in the USA without showing ID. It's even worse in Europe.
Many music venues (the vast majority), all federally licensed firearms retailers, almost all hotels and modes of travel.
Perhaps you can live without music, air travel, hotels, and firearms, but I cannot.