Really? I think it's a good security measure. To be fair if a guild master is going though the trouble to transferring a whole guild instead of starting a new one, they almost definitely have an authenticator. I have an authenticator attached to my account and don't pay a dime for it. It would immensely suck if you had a bank alt guild and have it transfered away because the account was compromised.
I think you are over dramatizing a really positive barrier for the service.

the key word is "barrier".

i'm fine if other people feel the need for an authenticator to safeguard their accounts; but i don't need it. never have. and i'd like to be able to rename my bank alt guild. sadly, i can't take advantage of the service without also buying something i don't want or need.

that's my point. i don't think there's any drama to it except what you read into it for some reason. i also think it's interesting that you've done research on all guilds to determine that they all 'almost definitely' have authenticators. really?

as for "good security measure", i guess that's true; but it's actually a redundant device for those of us who know how to manage our computer/internet security without such things.

As I see it, it's been reported that some people who steal accounts slap an authenticator on it to keep the original owner from changing the password and getting it back.

If so, I can see this as a reasonable solution:
1) Authenticator is required to prevent a guild master without one from getting hacked and the guild moved.

2) Minimum of three days of owning one required to prevent the "hack+authenticate" tactic. (I guess this assumes the person who owns the account has time to contact Blizzard before the hacker can move the guild.

it's only 'reasonable' if you can't manage your own account's safety. otherwise, it's a play for more people to buy the authenticator who don't need/want it. it's a hidden cost; or a barrier to accessing the guild services.

it's pretty obvious.

your rationale for authenticators is an old argument; which i understand, if i don't agree. but it's not germane to my O.P.

1.) You don't need to buy an Authenticator if you have a smartphone: there's a free app.

2.) I used to think the same way you do: that the only people who get hacked are careless ones. Then my account was compromised--and I've STILL never figured out how. No keyloggers, no way I could have been phished, a password that's not an actual word and involves both letters and numbers, etc. You bet your ass I have an Authenticator now.