Github confirms random 401 responses on unauthenticated `git clone`s are no mistake

Since yesterday a lot of users in Europe found their workflows failing due to Github seemingly randomly throwing HTTP/401 [https://http.cat/401] on git clone/git pull when interacting with public repos without authentication. It was now confirmed by staff member that this indeed is intentional [https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/206581#discussioncomment-18269083] and no further steps are planned at this point.