We are discussing how to get a (free) IB paper trading account for development. IB requires a live account before u can get a paper, but there are different types of IB accounts. I thought u needed a brokerage account, which requires 10k in funding. He's saying get an individual account, which has no funding requirement, but entitles you to a paper account. This is effectively a free paper account.
Precisely. It looks to me that a "Brokerage account" is when you want to run your own brokerage company and use IB's infrastructure. What you need is an Individual account.
Good point... I didn't know that... or maybe it changed. Long ago when I signed up I recall required minimums.
There is nothing wrong with your recollection. It used to be the case that an Individual account had certain minimum requirements in terms of funding. Those requirements have been removed: https://www.investopedia.com/news/interactive-brokers-eliminates-10000-account-minimum/