[You are free to not verify your account, and stop using bitstamp, but if you want a sustainable exchanger, it has to be legal and follow rules.
No, actually, we are not free to do that. Bitstamp never emailed me about this policy (even though they've sent me dozens of emails in the past to confirm trades/withdrawals).
Now they've basically stolen my money and won't give it back unless I send enough high-resolution documentation to steal my identity to some dude in Slovenia.
I've offered to let them wire the funds to my US-based bank, which has full AML documentation for me on file and who will confirm that I am the signatory for the account.
I want to stop using bitstamp and get my coins back. They're refusing to close my account. Scam scam scam.