Why might "authenticated" steps not often be seen by WLAN administrators on an access point (AP)?

The reason "authenticated" steps might not be often seen by WLAN administrators on an access point is that clients proceed directly to the association stage. In many instances, particularly in networks utilizing certain authentication methods like WPA/WPA2, the client's authentication process can happen very quickly and seamlessly, often resulting in administrators observing the association process without a corresponding visible logging of the authentication steps.

During the authentication phase, if the system is configured to handle authentication quickly, it may not register as a separate log entry, especially if the client's operating system is optimized for fast connections. This can make it appear as though the client jumps straight into the association phase without a distinct delay that would allow the administrator to witness the authentication process clearly. Therefore, the concept of rapid transitions in the authentication process can limit the visibility of those steps in the management interface of the access points.

The other options do not provide a complete understanding of the scenario. For instance, while clients could theoretically skip authentication or authenticate quickly, these behaviors are not the primary reason for the lack of visibility. The lack of logging by access points is also not usually the case, since most APs do keep records of authentication attempts.