i write hundredth login form when thought crossed mind: why need username? a while ago dad had change e-mail-address, , still didn't figure out, why can't log various websites new address. i'm not huge fan of individual per-site usernames. , wouldn't easier remember password? what usernames for? need unique string identify user by. if had password, work until user picks taken password , have tell him “sorry, 'greatpassword123' belongs user” — bad idea. so part of password needs unique. idea: predetermine first 3 characters! choose lower- , uppercase letters , digits, providing (26+26+10)^3 = 373,248 unique prefixes. @ registration, user dialog, telling him needs password, , starts “n0i” example, has pick rest (“deawhy” comes mind). can log in password only, being “n0ideawhy”, not knowing (or caring) “n0i” unique username. i see following pros , cons: pros independence e-mail-addresses user needs remember 1 string might reduce password reuse