My experience is similar to your parent comment - I've never been able to check into a hotel without showing photo ID (I never paid cash btw, always credit card, always in advance and in many cases had the print out of the booking). Same for hip boutique hotels and motels.

There was a free street concert - even for that the road was blocked on both sides and only those with valid IDs could get in.

So yeah, maybe not universal but it happens enough to be a hassle.