Most people have smartphones these days where they would be able to log into their account and grab the recovery key if it’s backed up. If they don’t have a phone, they will know someone that does, or a library with a computer.
Bear in mind that non-techy users don’t get the option to opt out of a Microsoft account in the OOBE now, so most should have their key backed up without thinking about it
A Microsoft password is more recoverable than a lost bitlocker recovery key.
Also, it feels worth highlighting that every other OS targeted at general consumers encrypts user data by default. Microsoft is really just getting up to speed with where everyone else was like 5 years ago.
Most people have smartphones these days where they would be able to log into their account and grab the recovery key if it’s backed up. If they don’t have a phone, they will know someone that does, or a library with a computer.
Bear in mind that non-techy users don’t get the option to opt out of a Microsoft account in the OOBE now, so most should have their key backed up without thinking about it
Do they also know their password? Hopefully they didn’t save it on the PC that is now locked (a lot of them probably did, if they saved it at all).
A Microsoft password is more recoverable than a lost bitlocker recovery key.
Also, it feels worth highlighting that every other OS targeted at general consumers encrypts user data by default. Microsoft is really just getting up to speed with where everyone else was like 5 years ago.