OK. Seems the salient point is that once you've been denied entry once, returning in future becomes more challenging. That'll be the case regardless of whether

OK. Seems the salient point is that once you've been denied entry once, returning in future becomes more challenging. That'll be the case regardless of whether you've been eligible for ESTAs or had to obtain visas via embassies in the past. The "banned from ESTA" phrasing had me scratching my head.