Wow! Is automatic account creation now a built-in feature?

I came across this thread and my wishful thinking interprets this as "automatic account creation" is now a built-in feature when using PayPal Express.

Did I understand this correctly?

If so, which version introduced this?

Does this feature exist for other built-in payment modules?

Yes, you understand it correctly. Here is the text from the module:

Express Checkout: Automatic Account Creation
If a visitor is not an existing customer, a Zen Cart account is created for them. Would you like make it a permanent account and send them an email containing their login information?
NOTE: Permanent accounts are auto-created if the customer purchases downloads or gift certificates, regardless of this setting.

I don't know when this was introduced or if it's available with other modules.

Ed

It's basically just something that was necessary to have with Paypal Express, as that by design allows the customer to completely bypass ZC customer info entry, and ZC needs to have that info.

This is incredible news for me. Thank you @edadk & @gjh42.

Do you happen to know whether this feature exists in v1.3.8a as well?

Update: I just checked my Admin console and confirmed that this feature exists in v1.3.8a as well. This is remarkable.

It had to be introduced when Paypal Express support was added, in v1.3.7.