> Why did it need to go to tattooed numbers

Many countries have laws about having to carry an ID on you all the time. Not as bad as a tattoo, but still not acceptable IMO.

> Also the implication that cultures and countries which have happily accepted id numbers are filled with non individualistic people is it?

Are we really gonna keep pretending there are no differences between cultures?

So that you could not impersonate some other identity. Same in the spirit of carrying a plastic card, just without somebody touching you by force.

Either way you are branded forever.