It's possible to use the iCloud password instead of your local account password, but it's very opt-in and not at all suggested by default. Signing into iCloud doesn't replace anything about your local accounts besides that.

>but allows you to set up a local account

Not on Windows 11 Home, using an online account has become mandatory.

>Yes it's a Dark UI pattern, but I have a feeling Apple do the same thing

Skipping it is a little clearer in macOS.

According the article, come Windows 11 that will be incorrect.

In the latest releases of Win 10 Home, at least once you have connected to the network, that button does not exist. They prompt you to enter your WiFi info first, then ask you to log in. And once you have entered the WiFi info you cannot get back to that screen and remove it until after you have set everything up. At least not without a factory reset, which I didn't actually try.

They force you to log in with a MS account during the initial setup then once you are in you can add a local admin account. Then you can log into it and remove the MS account. Its absolutely horrible.

I have been dealing with this a lot lately, had several laptops that were Home and could not get in to them without the MS account. Its a huge pain.

It seems you'll have to say it many times more untill this dark pattern will be removed. Apple uses the same teqchinque to trick you into using iCloud making it look like requrement for use your iPhone. For my taste it is cheating and dsigusting because even when you know it can be avoided you should work hard to find it especially when you are in a hurry and this trouble is by "design".

The article is saying that it's going to be mandatory for the new home version of Windows.

You can say it however many times you want, but you are wrong. You would have been right had you been talking about Windows 10 Home ~1-2 years ago.

But today, Windows 10 Home only gives you the option to login with a local account if you are offline (no cable, no WiFi) or you fail to login to an MS account multiple times. Only in one of those cases do they give you a small, relatively hidden option to use the local account.

If so many people are directly contradicting you, you may want to put in a bit more research instead of relying on possibly outdated experience.