You're quite right, but domains are fairly unique in that not renewing one lets someone else come along and pick up in the exact same place and "appear" to be t

You're quite right, but domains are fairly unique in that not renewing one lets someone else come along and pick up in the exact same place and "appear" to be the same entity that had the domain before. Phone numbers are another, but they're somewhat difficult to monitor for cancellations and then try to grab (it can be done as I've done it for a past employer, but it's not the same level of ease as a domain). Even failing to renew a corporate franchise with a state "only" has the consequence of that corporate entity being administratively dissolved. While likely catastrophic for that specific corporation, if "Example Widgets Ltd." fails to be renewed, I can't come along and register "Example Widgets Ltd." on the corporate register and then ring up the bank of the former Example Widgets and say "hi there it's me Example Widgets please hand over checking account." All of that said, I don't know if there's a better way to handle this. If we assume that domain names must expire--which we currently do, and I can make an argument for and against that assumption--then what's next? It's expired but never usable again? Good thought experiment for the morning to take my mind off of COVID's impacts on transit funding.