Login screens from home page

Gather falls into the category of social media sites. Like other shared media sites, the home page layout with the top section providing a way to login or sign up to the site.



Or take a look at the popular Wikipedia, which also has a link for login page instead of direct login.


Or..take the example of Blogger itself.

Why not provide the username/password text boxes in this header section like quarterlife?


Why go that extra link?