How can sign-up be so difficult at Rockstar Games? I gave up.

Encryption at the user end can be transparent to the user if implemented properly, VPNs are just one example. The companies you refer to don't have to be scummy, a lot of companies the users regard as exemplary can harvest information without the user even knowing, such as Google harvesting sales data from your emails when you shop at for example Amazon. Or Facebook harvesting your contacts list.
All three companies were thought of as trust worthy until the truth came out.
Using and selling peoples data in one form or another is prevalent nowadays and the more connected you are the more data is harvested. even trying to lock down your devices doesn't provide an adequate level of privacy when you take into account the level of data still harvested even with those settings in place.
Two factor is no more secure than any other form of security, if someone hacks your email and your Facebook account they then potentially have all the information needed to redirect your emails and texts. It is possible and does happen.
Yes a lot of it is down to users ignorance, clicking links without thinking, but if there was properly implanted encryption redirections would not work since the keys to unencrypt would not be in the hackers possession.
Just my humble thoughts on the matter.
I know I will eventually have no choice but to get a mobile phone, and use two factor authentication as that is the way things are going. But I don't have to believe it is more secure than encryption at both ends or like using it.

Pejole2165 said:

Two factor is no more secure than any other form of security, if someone hacks your email and your Facebook account they then potentially have all the information needed to redirect your emails and texts. It is possible and does happen.

I politely disagree. It seems you are talking about two factor as your email address. That isn't two factor authentication. If your password is found out and they try to log on, the code is sent to the phone number (if text message based two factor is used) or it asks for the code from your authenticator app.

If you are specifically targeted, like the person knows what they are doing and are targeting you specifically, the text message method can be spoofed by them contacting your wireless carrier and cloning the sim and fish for info this way. But most now require the last 4 of your social security number. Which unfortunately can be easily found with all the compromised numbers now a days.

However, the authenticator app is the most secure option, and so far has not been cracked. It has if the company itself is cracked, or the user is tricked into giving the code to someone else. But the method itself is not insecure.

Either option is better than none at all however. Text based 2fa that is offered is better than none at all.

Your email and facebook (if for some reason you have one still) should have 2fa enabled.

Email is the most basic one that should be protected with 2fa. Every online account if possible should have 2fa.

As for your data being harvested. There is no way to avoid that unless you stop using the internet.

Oh, I don't disagree with you on most points, any security is better than none, that is a given. A 2f app or dongle is much more secure than merely email and text, I agree, but I still am of the opinion that encryption (even more so hardware encryption) is even more secure and could be implemented if the companies responsible for handling your data put the effort in.
As for Facebook, Twitter, Skype etc, I don't use them and never have. I may be a dying breed.
My posts here are not to generate an argument, merely my thoughts. I do agree with you and others regarding the some security better than none, I just disagree with the method of security being used as it seems to be a modern culture/ lifestyle approach rather than an actual well thought out method of security, if that makes sense.

I get you. No harm done at all. I agree that encryption more widespread would be good for everyone.