Confirmation popup is not a friction. We get used to such popups when we do any sensitive stuff. We don’t say “OMG, stop it” when such popup appears on an attempt to empty “trash” in OS. It’s a standard we get used to and don’t consider it as a friction, hence cannot be called “friction”.

A registration funnel is a friction? A purchasing funnel is a friction? Nope. That’s how things work.

The problem isn’t the existence of a step or funnel, but how it feels.