Might be a good move

>> … and shut down / restart the system, and configure some assistive tools, and attach a Bluetooth keyboard, and read a 2nd factor USB key, and whatnot.
>Oh, dear. They really managed to overcomplicate things, now didn't they?

These are problems that have to be solved somehow. What if a workstation only has a bluetooth keyboard? It has to be recognized by the display manager.

Some time ago there was talk about a public sector Linux desktop. Logging in using a smart card is an absolutely essential requirement for the public sector in large parts of Europe. This is technically very similar to the USB key case, and requires talking to local hardware (the card reader).