The reality is that worst case, it should feel like a laptop (username, password (unless using SSO) + recovery key) or a cryptocurrency wallet.
With the v2 crypto, you typically don't have to remember anything - you just scan a QR code to log in.
If you've logged out all of your devices then yes, you need username + password (unless using SSO), and then if you want to recover your encrypted history you need the recovery key.
It's true that the UX historically was awful, but on Element X i believe we've got it right (and Element Web/Desktop will shortly follow).
With the v2 crypto, you typically don't have to remember anything - you just scan a QR code to log in.
If you've logged out all of your devices then yes, you need username + password (unless using SSO), and then if you want to recover your encrypted history you need the recovery key.
It's true that the UX historically was awful, but on Element X i believe we've got it right (and Element Web/Desktop will shortly follow).