@itonewbie 

Lots of times the things the software vendors do are required by the Software Police. I don't think many states required DL data, so it's certainly not an IRS requirement. But give some bureaucrat in the state capital a chance to mandate a program "improvement," and what do you expect?  

Also, you may be the only preparer in your office.  But in some places, there are 20.  If George did the return last year, how does Greta even know she's dealing with the same person?  Of course, the answer to that is that in most states, she doesn't.