My take is that they make it as difficult as possible to get people to use visa agents to "smooth things over" and we all know why that is don't we! There's a reason the beaches, bars and restaurants are empty!
What happens if you intend to have an extended holiday and you will be staying with your girlfriend at her rented condo? Does she have to pay 2-3 months of rent in advance just to satisfy this ridiculous requirement?
It's beyond ridiculous and in the next breath they are crying out for tourists. There's a reason the numbers are down. Who wants to go on holiday and jump through all these hoops.