No need to log in; it is possible, and always has been possible, to participate as a cookie-based user indefinitely. We have some users that juggle cookie base

No need to log in; it is possible, and always has been possible, to participate as a cookie-based user indefinitely. We have some users that juggle cookie based accounts for as long as a year. And as of about 6 months ago we can reinstate your cookie on the "forgot my login" form, provided you gave us a valid email address to start with (we don't validate emails).