[mynameisvlad]

What?

That was in Win8: http://www.theeldergeek.com/windows_8/win8_install_setup_per... (Sign in without a Microsoft Account)

And Win8.1: http://www.theeldergeek.com/windows_8/win_8_1_install_setup_... (Create Account > Sign in without a Microsoft account)

At no point were you required to use a MSA, it was always the preferred option (since you get the sync, OneDrive, as well as automatically signing into the store and any other Microsoft services) but you always had the ability to turn it off in the setup screens, and the option was always clearly labeled. If you didn't want an MSA, local accounts worked perfectly fine as the default account on the box, and you can always convert to and from within the PC settings.