Those are the right questions: While I'd personally prefer full copy/import/export control, having the ability to set up an second key in advance is functionally-similar to having a backup of the first one. If I had my 'druthers:
1. All sites/services would allow the registration of 5 or more keys, which can be tracked/revoked separately. That way if one device is stolen, you can invalidate that key without affecting others.
2. There are two sets of keys: "Regular Use" and "Backup/Recovery".
3. Attempting to use a Backup/Recovery key prompts to user to confirm that they want to invalidate the Regular keys and promote the backup key(s) to the new regular. In this way, a compromised backup cannot be used in secret.
It's not functionally equivalent, but it is a workaround, but requires doing it on every site (if they allow it) and it cannot be freely moved and re-backed up offline from the site.
The actual reason is people have many devices. I assume this is at least somewhat common, but I still avoid passkeys so IDK.
You're designing a system where we should just be able to backup our own keys if we want to.
Comments
Those are the right questions: While I'd personally prefer full copy/import/export control, having the ability to set up an second key in advance is functionally-similar to having a backup of the first one. If I had my 'druthers:
1. All sites/services would allow the registration of 5 or more keys, which can be tracked/revoked separately. That way if one device is stolen, you can invalidate that key without affecting others.
2. There are two sets of keys: "Regular Use" and "Backup/Recovery".
3. Attempting to use a Backup/Recovery key prompts to user to confirm that they want to invalidate the Regular keys and promote the backup key(s) to the new regular. In this way, a compromised backup cannot be used in secret.
It's not functionally equivalent, but it is a workaround, but requires doing it on every site (if they allow it) and it cannot be freely moved and re-backed up offline from the site.
The actual reason is people have many devices. I assume this is at least somewhat common, but I still avoid passkeys so IDK.
You're designing a system where we should just be able to backup our own keys if we want to.