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I also installed Pro some weeks ago using the May 2021 ISO and didn't have to use a Microsoft account despite being online. I don't remember having to sidestep any dark patterns either, though maybe I've just become desensitized to them.

edit: Specify that I was online while installing.

I've done a fresh install of Home and Pro in the past couple of months. There is no requirement to use a Microsoft account if there is no network connection. I also did a fair amount of configuration before connecting to the network, and a lot of the third-party apps that typically get installed alongside Windows were not installed.

The end product was nice, but jumping through the hoops to get there was a pain. It's also rather annoying that I cannot figure out which particular setting(s) prevented the installation of third-party apps.

For Pro the 'offline account' option is there, but if you select the 'Home' edition it flows like this (1 minute silence video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgfvhN8FVlk