I was forced to fill out an XFA form (that was pretending to be a PDF) from the Canadian government and the experience left me feeling completely subjugated. The lengths that Adobe go to to make sure that you have the most frustrating experience possible is unbelieveable. Searching for alternatives or help leads you to either: be forced to buy their premium software (or a licensed equivalent) or subscribe for Adobe’s online tools. Why is this propriety format allowed in government forms? What is so fantastic/irreplaceable about this format?
Adobe profitting off your misery. That the Canadian govt is using it makes me think if the adoption was similar to how things usually happen down here in Brazil: new head of IT has a “great idea” (which he suspiciously got after meeting with a representative of a company) and demands it to be implemented ASAP. 3 months later, with everything needing the “great thing”, head of IT is dismissed from his position, everyone else hates the new thing, but now it’s completely rooted into half the digital workflows.