404:
Excuse the blatent ignorance on my part, this not being my expertise...
What about the 'new' electronic passports (being issued in AUS for example)? These have some new wiz-bang chip in the middle page which apparently contains specific information about the document holder, which sounds similar to the ID card in the UAE/HK you mentioned. I was always under the impression that these new passports were eventually going to be used in a similar fashion to the way you described the ID cards being used... ie scan, fingerprint or iris check and then pass through a gate, eliminating the need for immigration officers.
In fact I recall hearing/reading about a new trial being used (perhaps initially on AUS aircrew?) at Sydney airport involving iris scans and electronic processing... anyone know what I'm on about?
In general I agree with you entirely... the old 'stand in line and wait for your little blue/green/red book to be stamped' trick seems a bit yesteryear doesn't it!?!