From my understanding, the US requirement is due to Amazon Payments. It would be great if they could offer an alternative to those who are ineligible for Amazon's service. I'm not sure what incentive there is for Kickstarter to explore other options--they are likely happy to enjoy their current growth and success.
That said, as a backer of many Kickstarter campaigns from north of the border, it would be nice to be able to tap into their momentum with projects of my own.
You can still use Amazon Payments outside the US. Unfortunately, unlike PayPal, they bill you directly in the target currency which means your bank or credit card company may charge you fees - they did for me :(
That said, as a backer of many Kickstarter campaigns from north of the border, it would be nice to be able to tap into their momentum with projects of my own.