[nfoz]

I think the technology confuses two things: 1. Encrypted traffic between device and wireless hotspot 2. Restricted access to the wireless hotspot (you need a password or it won't give you service)

I want to allow anonymous access, but let the traffic be encrypted. Is there a technical reason why this is not implemented?

I'm very sad by the culture (and moreso, the legal necessity) of restricting wireless access. I want to share, and have at times relied on anonymous wifi to help me get home.

[dublinben]

You can run an access point with all the benefits of WPA2/AES, but make the password really simple. Setting your SSID to "PasswordIsBacon" or just using the same SSID and password is a fairly easy way to share access, without running a completely insecure, unencrypted network.

[nfoz]

That's "easy to share" which is a much greater hurdle than "publicly accessible". I want strangers to be able to use my wifi in the middle of the night from outside my home. I want devices to connect without any questions or hassle.