renewed my FL driver license in Jan 2011 by
mail-—all that was required was $48
Yes - the document requirements apply to in-person renewals only. Since you get to renew your license by mail every other renewal period, at your next renewal you will have to go to the DMV in person and jump through all the documentation hoops. So, it will be a long time before all Florida DL and ID cards meet the new documentation requirements, which were imposed to conform to the federal REAL ID act.
However, you still may not have to jump through all the hoops: there is legislation proposed for the 2012 Florida legislative session to discontinue complying with several provisions of the REAL ID act. See http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=47159&SessionId=70 and http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/0220
I hope this passes. This proposed legislation would specifically prohibit electronic tracking and collecting or storing biometric information. It would also limit the documentation that the DMV can require for license renewals, reinstatements, and modifications. The legislation does not address database sharing. It would prevent the DMV from copying identification documents and require the DMV to destroy any copies it already possesses. Requiring people to prove who they are and where they live to GET a license or ID is necessary. Otherwise the license or ID is pretty meaningless. But electronic tracking and biometric data recording are tools for control of the citizenry.