Why do I need another Apple product to login to apple.com

I'm trying to login to apple.com to find out about a charge on my account. I go to the login prompt. I enter my username and password and I get a prompt about a code to enter and a message that Apple would never text me to send the code. I have to get the code on another Apple device I have. Luckily, I was home to get that device and get the code. What if that device was not available to me? What if I only have one Apple device? Do I have to *buy* another Apple product to be able to login? Why can't Apple be more realistic about MFA? Or better yet, ditch MFA altogether?