Edit:
Since theres been some confusion with dates
In 2016 github made site side searching login only and hid the search bar if you werent logged in. This didnt include searching within a repository so that could still be done, just not all repositories
This year was the change being referred to in this link which made repository level searching require logging in
Blog post: https://github.blog/changelog/2023-06-07-code-search-now-requires-login/
The fact that one of the excuses for GitHub search results being subpar is that there is a right and a wrong search bar is already telling.
The fact you call it “search results being subpar” tell me you never used the big top search bar labeled “Type
/
to search”.You can’t make an interface that everyone will understand, there will always be a percentage of user who will be lost.