Is there any alternative to the terrible sign-in screen?

LOL - hadn't thought of that :^) That's only two if you're already on the desktop; more to do though if you need to get there first (hmmm is two fingers at once arguably marginally less quick than <Windows><U><U>?).

See - that's what I like about a good UI - options to do things the way that works best for you.

nigelmercier said:

Three key presses? What about Alt+F4

Press the physical Power button.