If ~5 USD or so are already keeping you from creating an account, it probably is a good thing that this is in place.
Anyways, Gatehub I think still gives you free XRP once you do KYC with them.
What is a KYC?
KYC and AML are: Know Your Customer/Client, and Anti-Money Laundering respectively. They are requirements most exchanges/companies/payment processors/etc. ask for to know your identity, and to hold you responsible for any illegal/illicit activity done on your end (like money laundry or terrorism funding).