Is the CZDS open to individuals? I'd like to register and go over the files in an individual capacity, but seems like people have to send requests over to registry operators, which they may or may not grant.
You can register as an individual; but I believe they want a valid phone number and mailing address, and a reason for access.
The requests are mostly automatically approved but there are some outliers who take weeks to approve or will reject the request without more info like faxing an ID.
Requests for all these new TLDs sponsored by Google seem to be approved instantly for what it's worth.
TBH, i enjoy it. Or rather, i sort of wish domains didn't exist - and the flood of these names helps devalue the entire land. Or so i ignorantly assume.
The most annoying thing about them, that's seemed to increase over time, is that for 'premium' names the renewals are the same cost as 'buying' the domain.
At least if you manage to snag a .com/.net/etc, you'll have low yearly renewal fees.
If you can, get access to czds.icann.org and look over the zone files for .ing and .meme.
No one is registering domains for anything other than trademark protection and speculative squatting.
A lot of money spent for nothing.