All the more reason that having to add someone as a friend is pointless. Leave the game the way it was. Everyone helped everyone just by sending lives. No need for the new world let's be friends crap. Play the damn game and be done.
As far as I'm concerned, if we wanted to be friends with people, wouldn't we do that on Facebook? Isn't this just a game that we all log onto and play?
Do not like this new feature. Friends I have on my list do not send lives. Strangers I do not know, ask and send lives all the time. Bad idea. Do not recommend.
Looking at a similar situation. I have requests from people asking for lives, not friends with. I always send them when asked. When I go to ask for lives, I can only choose from my friends list. Why??? Anyone can ask me, but I have to ask only my friends? This just started about a week ago.