The only service around that allowed a Canadian friend to send me money was PayPal. His bank and mine didn't feel like talking to each other.
Wire transfers really aren't designed for your $300. You can complain that EFT should be easier (like they are in Europe) but that isn't a problem with the currency. You could have sent your friend a check for < $1, if the time to clear was acceptable.
I get that change is frustratingly slow in this, but none of it requires a fundamental currency or technology change. I just paid my rent by phone for $0 in fees, and regularly exchange funds with friends for the same. Between countries this is harder but that's more regulatory than technical.
Unless you are taking the (extreme) view that states shouldn't be able to see, control, or tax/tariff such transactions your issue is with the regulatory hurdles and incentives to integrate incorporating them, not on the networks (or currencies).