> "If I wasn't a US citizen, and my goal wasn't to gain official, above-board citizenship in an EU-member nation by way of doing work as a programmer, system administrator, or other such similar job, then I imagine I would have an easier time getting in, yes. For example, if my place of residence was in a low-cost-of-living country and my intent was to take whatever odd jobs I could get and use the excess to establish a nice nest egg back home, I imagine I'd have a much easier -if far more precarious- time."

Interesting, it's almost like you are telling us you have it better there in the USA. Hypocrisy at its best...