Decision to drop OpenID support is very unfortunate.

I use OpenID as my preferred login method wherever possible. I would argue that most of those users using OpenID are probably also those more valuable in the community compared to masses of one visit facebook "users" and the likes. Why on earth would anyone want to use such account to login to SO? To brag about answering question infront of their "friends"? Someone must have hit the ground with their head really hard.

On the note of simplification of code by removing OpenID. Since when it became a solution of a problem to "ignore the problem"? Is that why we write code? Do not think so. Making pretty pictures somewhat does not make much to support that.

How you come to a conclusion that OpenID is a failure? I am using mojeid.cz as an authentication provider. The service is run by a non profit organization which is also maintaining our national TLD registry - CZ.NIC. It is steadily picking up traction and is on track to become nationwide login method with verified identity, to have same legal weight as declaring identity in person against state authorities. It is also gaining wide support on commercial sites as well.

Thirdparty OpenID service allows me to login anywhere using two factor authentication, which has only a poor replacement in using google or even facebook with questionable "trust feeling". That does not feel as adequate replacement. How can we use prehistoric "mail+pass" with any sense of security and privacy compared to google and facebook login providers?

Are you planing to add two phase authenticcation support for logging in with mail+pass?

Keeping the OpenID support would be preferable from a not-a-noob user perspective. Please reconsider and DO NOT remove it.

The decision to drop OpenID support is very unfortunate.

I use OpenID as my preferred login method wherever possible. I would argue that most of those users using OpenID are probably also those more valuable in the community compared to masses of one visit Facebook "users" and the likes. Why on earth would anyone want to use such an account to log in to SO? To brag about answering questions in front of their "friends"? Someone must have hit the ground with their head really hard.

On the note of simplification of code by removing OpenID. Since when it became a solution to a problem to "ignore the problem"? Is that why we write code? Do not think so. Making pretty pictures somewhat does not make much to support that.

How do you come to the conclusion that OpenID is a failure? I am using mojeid.cz as an authentication provider. The service is run by a nonprofit organization that is also maintaining our national TLD registry - CZ.NIC. It is steadily picking up traction and is on track to become a nationwide login method with verified identity, to have the same legal weight as declaring identity in person against state authorities. It is also gaining wide support on commercial sites as well.

Third-party OpenID service allows me to log in anywhere using two-factor authentication, which has only a poor replacement in using google or even Facebook with questionable "trust feeling". That does not feel like an adequate replacement. How can we use prehistoric "mail+pass" with any sense of security and privacy compared to google and Facebook login providers?

Are you planning to add two-phase authentication support for logging in with mail+pass?

Keeping the OpenID support would be preferable from a not-a-noob user perspective. Please reconsider and DO NOT remove it.