>Shouldn't keys only be signed after meeting in person?
Keys should only be signed after establishing beyond resonable doubt that they belongs to the person indicated by the key. Since the userid of the key is usually a real name, checking the passport in person is one good way to accomplish that.
I would argue that by cross-referencing multiple sources I can establish beyond resonable doubt that a certain key indeed belongs to the person known to the community as Wladimir J. van der Laan. At the point where the person is sufficiently well known under a certain name it doesn't really matter if that's the name on their passport, since that's irrelevant for their public identity.
Keys should only be signed after establishing beyond resonable doubt that they belongs to the person indicated by the key. Since the userid of the key is usually a real name, checking the passport in person is one good way to accomplish that.
I would argue that by cross-referencing multiple sources I can establish beyond resonable doubt that a certain key indeed belongs to the person known to the community as Wladimir J. van der Laan. At the point where the person is sufficiently well known under a certain name it doesn't really matter if that's the name on their passport, since that's irrelevant for their public identity.