[Astrohacker]

Same here. That's basically what I suggested here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2677140

Email addresses are typically controlled by a third party, so it doesn't make much sense to me that they should be equated with identity. Would you equate your identity with your IRL work address?

On the other hand, private keys are held only by the person whose identity they represent. They are a better way to represent identity because they do not rely on third parties.

[7952]

They don't equate with identity but give a way of communicating with the user using a different channel. In a world of passwords this allows that password to be reset.