Emu, to quote an oft used recommendation by a couple of other very wise PPRUNERs. "Take a Bex and have a lie down".
Believe it or not, there are far more significant problems in ATSRs and associated compliance. People throwing their teddy out of the cot and screaming "don't want to" or "can't make me" doesn't even register in the grand scheme of things.
I have people working around me probably earning far less than your good self who acknowledge and fully accept the need for the card. Before you continue on your tyrade about being conned by govt or other conspiracty theories they are in fact very normal and rational every day folk.