Shareholders don't require constant profit growth.  That was mostly management trying to make their stock options into vast riches.  Well run banks didn't play this game (check out HCBK - stock price is UP during the meltdown).

Capital requirements are not trivial.  You only look at liquidity instead of the whole balance sheet.  But that fits your religious view of usury.  If capital requirements were trivial, how come the banking system has lost roughly 150 to $500 Billion dollars?  Should have been pocket change no?