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Internet Explorer 6 support: is it needed?

As web developers and designers we all know too well of the problems we face when it comes to coding and testing for Internet Explorer 6 (IE6). With the release of Internet Explorer 8 over a year ago, there now seems to be 3 mind-sets when it comes IE6 support:

• Dropping support altogether, hoping the user will be encouraged to upgrade their out of date browser. This movement has only been re-affirmed by the likes of Youtube and Google dropping their support.
• Religiously supporting and catering for IE6 as there is too much of a market share of users to warrant dropping support.
• Looking at your website’s user base and logically thinking about whether or not (or if you are lucky enough to have tracking analytics to back it up) your website is likely to have users with IE6.

Personally the last option is my personal preference, and the perfect middle ground between the other two. Designers and developers are made happier knowing that they only have to support IE6 should the website’s user base require it.

If your client’s website is likely to be non-tech savvy parents, the chances of them having IE6 is relatively high. Therefore the requirement for support is there. On the other hand if you are designing a website which is most likely to be viewed by other designers or developers (much like Carsonified), the chances of them having a more up to date browser such as IE8 or Firefox is increasingly high, meaning support for IE6 doesn’t really need to be considered at all.

The State of Web Development 2010 report shows that 60% of us test for IE6 still, but I wonder how much of that is actually required by the target audience?