Aha, I think we have arrived at the crux of the confusion.

As I said several times before, I'm extremely in favor of using API tokens that way, when they're being used from an automated workflow where the alternative is to store a password. That's an increase in security, yes.

What I'm irritated about is that my use of git as a command-line tool does not function to interact with github if I just give my github password. I do not have an automated workflow. I'm just using git from the command line, and would like to be able to type my password.

If this reduction in the security and convenience of my daily setup is because github believes, as you do apparently, that the only reason to use the command line is from an automated workflow, that may form a clue as to why they don't give a shit about my preferred workflow or my not wanting to introduce new attack vectors into it. Fair enough. But please don't lecture me on how not letting me just enter my password, and forcing me to store tokens for my interactive workflow, is better. Because for me, it isn't.

Glad we had this talk.