i must say that analogy is the worst one could possibly conjure up. one cant really compare mcat to the apmle when the latter is infinitely easier, tests what one is supposed to have been learning for years, and is a minimal competency exam where the mcat is more of a measuring stick amongst other variables to gauge preparedness to start medical school for admissions committees . also noteworthy to point out that in podiatry school, simply taking the exam is good enough to garner an acceptance where as in any other DO or MD school, a qualification does exist. i do understand your initial point but there is some kind of relevance to being able to pass the apmle when you consider the ease of the exam and the fact that students can take it as many times as they please (as far as I know. someone please correct me if im wrong)
The thing about analogies is that they are analogies.
If the point got across, then that's all that's needed.
Passing boards mean almost jack all in the grand scheme of things.
There are also various nuances. You could have someone get 74, 74, and finally pass with 75 on the third try and that hardly means anything to the student who passed with 75 on the first try.
There could be a student who has a serious medical issue right around taking boards.
The overall point is that as long as you pass boards within a reasonable amount of tries, then you are competent enough to hold the title of physician without the criticism of "how could x be a physician after not passing after the first attempt".
You could ultimately find an issue in a ton of peoples past academic or otherwise records and question how they could become a physician.
At the end of the day, if you can pass boards within reason, you deserve the same respect of being a physician as the next person.
This could carry over to the Caribbean medical schools, as if a Caribbean medical student passes their curriculum, passes step 1 and 2, matches in the USA, then they deserve every ounce of respect as any USA physician because they earned it through the same credentials.