It is absolutely that simple.
Many authentication methods have been used over the years, modern routers support all these methods in their latest firmware.
All it requires is Vodafone to release the information required and for the user to enter this information into the relevant section within their choice of router. Other than their terms and conditions, Vodafone do not need to implement any changes at all.
I understand why they do this, staff are trained to provide support to known equipment and a specific configuration only.
That's fine, but rather than excluding you from using your own choice of equipment they could take the approach that they only provide support if you are using their equipment. If you use your own equipment they you are on your own, which I believe everyone would accept. In fact it would be unrealistic to expect anything other than that.
A normal home setup has changed, it used to be one shared computer connected directly to the internet. Anyone with a 'network' at home was considered a 'BillyNoMates' who stayed up all night, but this has all changed.
Many homes now have complex networks built up over a period of time, adding one device at a time and testing it works. The result is many different devices from many different manufacturers all connected and doing their thing. Media Streamers, Parental controls using DNS filtering, using DDNS so people can login to their CCTV, baby monitors, FTP server, OwnCloud, web server, the list is endless.
Vodafone, or anyone else for that matter, cannot test every possible combination and so cannot guarantee that their equipment will drop in to that network and cause no problems. The poor DLNA implementation of their router is one example of how to screw up someone's finely honed network. The fact it's taken three months and still counting to implement a fix for their dodgy DLNA server is disappointing to say the least.
Will Vodafone change this requirement to use their own router? They should but they probably won't.
