I was approved for a $550,000 mortgage over the phone, during COVID times. They verified my identity documents electronically, verified that the place I was buy

I was approved for a $550,000 mortgage over the phone, during COVID times. They verified my identity documents electronically, verified that the place I was buying existed using the digital property registry, had their appraiser go out, charged me for the appraisal, and placed the money in escrow with my notary. If they can do this during a pandemic, why can't they do it all the time?