My two pence ;-)

Yes and no -- finger print data/picture can also be faked as well as the face picture. The cost of verification can be quite high when all government offices, hospitals, schools, banks,... must install at least one finger print comparator (machine) per public reception counter. [Taking finger prints with mobile phones and sending to a verification centre then waiting for verification results is possible but again at what cost?]

I think a card security system should allow quicker verification at the counter and it should also allow privacy (of the card holder) to be controlled by the card holder [so that personal data can be accessed only with her/his consent.] A possible mechanism maybe a encryption system of multiple keys (or passwords or pin numbers). Id card issueing office can specify one key to access certain data on the card. Id card holders can specify some other keys. Unless the card holder agrees to release his/her data, by cooperatively but secretly entering her/his keys, data remains encrypted and is protected from fraud, fake and government offices.

Fraud (using other people's card) would fail holder keys check, unless the holder compromises -- giving keys out. Fake cards would fail issuing office key check, unless the office compromise this security themselves. Government offices and other offices would not get the holder private data, unless the holder agrees. The cases of stolen or damaged cards [duplicate/reissue], modified [extra data/update] cards could be managed by adding extra data to be encrypted by the same protocol.