Would you prefer a system whereby everyone has to pay 70 quid and visit an embassy in order to get an actual visa instead, requiring giving up your passport for a few months whilst they sort it?
Be careful what you wish for.
As for what they are trying to achieve - surely this is just their version of "taking back control", just like millions of people voted for here in 2016. Can't have the penny and the bun.
The UK has its own version which begins the end of 2023. Cost is a tenner, which is more than seven Euros, and lasts for only 2 years rather than 3....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Travel_Authorisation_(United_Kingdom)?wprov=sfla1