The problem is that no-one really understood the complexities involved in linking the world together.
The idea of everyone ultimately working to the same rules was ambitious enough. Given the major differences between the old systems, IMO they have made a pretty good fist of that part. The current differences may seem significant but in practice will have no material effect on handicap comparisons in the short term.
I don't believe the authorities really put much thought into inter communication. As I said before, GB&I is really the only area where large numbers of players move between different authority areas and as apps and covid were not really on the horizon, no one anticipated the need.
But now there is big problem to sort out. The software and how (and particularly when) it communicates.
As I understand it, there are a number of number crunching WHS databases around. The providers have a vested interest in there only being one. Some countries have live updates, some are updated daily. Some countries access their system directly others indirectly via an ISV competition management system.
Apart from the technical complexities, the commercial ramifications are immense and costly.
Who is going to pay?