[zamadatix]

The real friction with SLAAC was that certain people (particularly some at Google) tried to force it as the only option on users, not that IPv6 ever forced it as the only option. The same kind of thing would likely occur with any new IP version rolling out.

For comparison IPv4 had:

  - Static (1980 - original spec)
  - RARP   (1984 - standalone spec)
  - BOOTP  (1985 - standalone spec)
  - DHCP   (1993 - standalone spec)

And for IPv6:

  - Static (1995 - pre, 1998 final spec)
  - SLAAC  (1996 - pre standalone, 1998 final standalone)
  - DHCPv6 (2003 - standalone)

Some of these have had subsequent minor updates, e.g. DHCP was updated in 1997 and so on.