That replaces number two and is the correct alternative in most cases.

There are cases where a password manager may not solve the problem, though. It doesn't help if I forget my disk encryption or work AD password and I need to be able to login before I can get to the password manager in the first place. Enterprise IT is also where you find some of those frustrating password policies, such as long and complex passwords with mandated changes every month or two, and where you usually can't choose your management tools.

Of course those particular passwords usually get typed so often that remembering them isn't much of a problem. And password managers work well for pretty much all secrets that aren't needed that often.

Yeah. I've been in the habit of keeping the (encrypted) password file in multiple places. So I can even get the password off my phone if I really need to.

Although: be careful of cloud solutions

Until you need to login some place and don't have access to your password manager.