You've heard it before, well this seems to suggest that the password or AD based auth is just too wrong!  So SharePoint is going as open as possible!!

Microsoft switching SharePoint to claims-based authentication

By John Fontana, Network World, 10/16/07

Microsoft is replacing the authentication system for SharePoint Server and plans to make the collaboration platform one of the first of the company’s marquee applications to rely on a new claims-based identity model.

The goal is to have SharePoint incorporate an authentication model that works with any corporate identity system, including Active Directory, LDAPv3-based directories, application-specific databases and new user-centric identity models, such as LiveID, OpenID and InfoCard systems, including Microsoft’s CardSpace and Novell’s Digital Me.

Microsoft switching SharePoint to claims-based authentication - Network World

ttfn

David