Overseas folks have bemused themselves for some years about the FAA license. Comments such as....printed on a bit of cardboard, etc come to mind.
Now of course the FAA are using a new more permanent format, but several things have not changed....once issued, the number does not change, when aircraft ratings are added they don't disappear (or become invalid) after a certain specified period...and last but certainly not least, there is no charge for issuing the original / amended document.
Little wonder there is so much aviation activity here in the USA...it is not taxed/charged to death, unlike other 'developed' countries.