>> IL DMV seems to give away DLs like they are candy.

In the USA DLs are by far and away the most common form of identification. Many people don't have passports, just DLs.

You can get a non-drivers ID in the exact same place, in the same way, just without the driving test.

Yeah. I can back up the OP's claim with some anecdata as well. If you've ever had a license in IL, you can pretty much guarantee they'll give you a new one with no testing right now.

I know 3 people that have renewed in the last 6 months. They all commented that the experience was weird. They'd be told that they would need to do all sorts of exams, but never end up having to do them. They would just get the new license.

I've lived in a lot of places, and I've never once had to take any kind of exam to renew a license. Not sure who told them you need to do that - I don't think that's a thing in any US state, and probably not in most countries either.

Renewal of a license is mostly just updating the photo.

You can also transfer licenses between states with no exam. Not necessarily between countries though, some allow it some don't.

I think the OP was talking about an initial license though - for the most part exams are not very hard, you just need a basic level of skill, and some knowledge.