The goal of vaccine passes is to allow business to open for some that would not be allowed to open for anyone otherwise. The nudge is merely a minor but welcome side-effect.

This cannot be true. The same goal could trivially be achieved simply by not forcing the businesses to close in the first place.

That's what you believe, but GP was talking about intent and for that only the thoughts of the people doing all the "intending" count. People that believe that not closing is a good idea are usually not the ones proposing vaccination pass schemes (but some of them might still gladly accept them as a compromise)