Hacker News Reader

This is sometimes true. Like in Tunisia where they give a free SIM in baggage claim. But I crossed a lot of land borders through west africa where it would be a day or two of traveling before I could find an official store that had a physical SIM.

Experiences differ.

Also all EU sim cards roam in the whole of the EU automatically.

I did not notice this in Ireland, but I may have missed it. It was this easy in London though.

A lot of asian countries have similar convenience for physical SIMs, order online and just pickup at a stall at the airport.