Our FOIA in Michigan lets us request items by mail,   or fax , or even
via email.   Why should a resident of my state have to travel hundreds or
evnt thousands of miles to view a deed or other recorded doc on a piece
of real estate they may be interested in researching at a remote location?

The FOIA was designed in most areas to open govt, not require the
physical presence of a person to get info held by the govt body.  Let's
not go back into the dark ages of having to use rock and chisel, because
it cannot be "lugged off" easily.