I'm not sure this is true anymore. I bought a new laptop, and I could not figure out how to avoid signing in to a Microsoft account without starting over and refusing to set up Wi-Fi. I am quite savvy, but admittedly I had not used a consumer edition of Windows in quite some time. Nothing overblown here; dark patterns ought to be called out loudly.
Yep. I literally had to solve this yesterday helping a friend setup a brand new laptop (with Window Home edition) That little link is gone now. I had to Google to find that you create the local account by turning on Airplane mode before entering that screen. It then let me create a local account. ( And of course the other thing I did was immediately remove the McAfee security nagware - at least Microsoft has Defender already installed ready to take over AV duties )
I just recently did re-format my gaming PC with latest Win10 and it was possible. Maybe because I have "Pro" version, but it was possible on latest Win10.
Yes, Pro is different. Windows 10 Home will require an account at setup if there's any way it can get to the internet. (No wifi and nothing plugged into the ethernet port will give you the option.)
