How is redeeming savings bonds difficult? You go to the bank, they give you money. End of transaction. You get tax documents in the mail at the end of the year.
Have to make an advance appointment to see any of the staff in the bank; have to manually fill out the back of each bond (try that if you bring in 25 or 50 bonds at one time), wait for staff to look up each bond, take nap, receive money.