The new gTLDs are just as much “real TLDs” to ICANN as the older gTLDs and ccTLDs.

The new gTLDs are much more "real" than the ccTLDs in the sense that they are actually governed in ways that protect registrants. A ccTLD operator can unilaterally yank any domain they want with no restrictions whatsoever. They aren't contracted parties.

The original tld expansion was a lot more involved than ponying up your $250,0000 from what I recall.

ICANN is a scam. It should have abolished canned TLDs altogether, but instead turned them into a profiteering scheme.

There’s no reason that a domain can’t end in ANY string. Bingo, no more fake “shortage.”