Does Signal still require your mobile number as mandatory identifier? If privacy is what matters that is a deal breaker. Last I looked it couldn't be used with

Does Signal still require your mobile number as mandatory identifier? If privacy is what matters that is a deal breaker. Last I looked it couldn't be used with third party clients either, and any desktop client requires tethering to an Android or IOS smartphone. Wire looks a bit more sensible, but still works exclusively on their servers.