Subject: Re: $899
the sensible conclusion for a non-US person is not to invest in the US ...... Personally my concern is withholding taxes on capital gains next.

Withholding taxes on cap gains are deductable from the cap gains you pay where you are a tax resident (Double Taxation Treaties), e.g. like in Germany, Portugal and France I think too around 25%. As long as that is not vastly exceed I don't see that as "sensible solution" --- apart from Monaco residents and similar. Otherwise no need to panic.