What's stopping or making it difficult for MtGox to *create* those cheques and mail them out?
I really do not know what you're talking about. How to create a cheque in Japan which is accepted by a Bank in your home country? I would guess that this is impossible. I've never seen anything like that. This works within the European Union. But the banks take astronomical fees. And a cheque from Japan? Not possible. No Bank will accept this. You have to travel to Japan to redeem it.
It's much easier to open a bank account in Japan. Why are not doing that? You can get your money from Gox in ¥ if you need it so urgent. Dollar not possible, thanks to the FINCEN.
Cheques are dead. Nobody uses cheques these days.
I don't see how its impossible. I get foreign cheques from banks around the world and I cash them in at my bank just fine, there are some fees ofcourse but that's what i accept.
Cheques are very far from dead. Just because YOU may not use them does mean no one else does.
Google for example has paid me by cheque every month for the last five years. And i live in canada, Google sends me a US dollar cheque which i cash just fine.