I agree that on Linux-based systems, SIGHUP is a reasonable mechanism for killing processes when a user closes an ssh session, and that ignoring SIGHUP is a reasonable way to avoid getting terminated.
I disagree that POSIX says that processes should expect a SIGHUP when a user logs out (SIGHUP means the controlling terminal was closed). I am not at all a POSIX expert, so please correct me if I misunderstand, but afaict POSIX explicitly does not specify what happens to the controlling terminal when a user logs out (http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/xrat/V4_xbd_...):
> POSIX.1 does not specify how controlling terminal access is affected by a user logging out (that is, by a controlling process terminating). 4.2 BSD uses the vhangup() function to prevent any access to the controlling terminal through file descriptors opened prior to logout. System V does not prevent controlling terminal access through file descriptors opened prior to logout (except for the case of the special file, /dev/tty). Some implementations choose to make processes immune from job control after logout (that is, such processes are always treated as if in the foreground); other implementations continue to enforce foreground/background checks after logout. Therefore, a Conforming POSIX.1 Application should not attempt to access the controlling terminal after logout since such access is unreliable. If an implementation chooses to deny access to a controlling terminal after its controlling process exits, POSIX.1 requires a certain type of behavior (see Controlling Terminal ).
I disagree that POSIX says that processes should expect a SIGHUP when a user logs out (SIGHUP means the controlling terminal was closed). I am not at all a POSIX expert, so please correct me if I misunderstand, but afaict POSIX explicitly does not specify what happens to the controlling terminal when a user logs out (http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/xrat/V4_xbd_...):
> POSIX.1 does not specify how controlling terminal access is affected by a user logging out (that is, by a controlling process terminating). 4.2 BSD uses the vhangup() function to prevent any access to the controlling terminal through file descriptors opened prior to logout. System V does not prevent controlling terminal access through file descriptors opened prior to logout (except for the case of the special file, /dev/tty). Some implementations choose to make processes immune from job control after logout (that is, such processes are always treated as if in the foreground); other implementations continue to enforce foreground/background checks after logout. Therefore, a Conforming POSIX.1 Application should not attempt to access the controlling terminal after logout since such access is unreliable. If an implementation chooses to deny access to a controlling terminal after its controlling process exits, POSIX.1 requires a certain type of behavior (see Controlling Terminal ).