I thought I had hit a limit, but apparently I can post a reply.

Apotheon, thanks. I read your post and came out of it convinced that the problem is, as you say, one of good design and not, as I was arguing, some kind of inviolable relationship between convenience and insecurity.

I'm somewhat embarassed by having to be corrected on so many point, but it's always healthy to be shown how much I don't know.

As a bonus to being straightened out, any embarrassment is completely secondary to my delight at finding out that I can, in fact, play World of Warcraft under Linux.