I don't "want" a unique identifier; I don't mind having one, but I don't care having many. I already have different identifiers for different services owned by different companies, so why should I care that just because Youtube and Gmail happen to be owned by Google, it's an absolute necessity that I have the same identifier on both services?
I don't care and don't even need to know that Google search, Gmail and Youtube are owned by the same company; to me they are separate systems.
The "unique identifier" approach is solving a problem that does not exist.
Then, trying to force people to have a public "social" profile under their own legal name, under the cover of this non-problem, is just crazy and arrogant.
This is not supposed to mean I like the policy change, but most people I know, that don't have anything to do with technology, are rather confused by multiple accounts and are glad the account for YouTube and Google Search can be the same.
I don't care and don't even need to know that Google search, Gmail and Youtube are owned by the same company; to me they are separate systems.
The "unique identifier" approach is solving a problem that does not exist.
Then, trying to force people to have a public "social" profile under their own legal name, under the cover of this non-problem, is just crazy and arrogant.