Are transaction fees required now? Is there any way to avoid them? I have been using blockchain.info's my wallet to perform transactions, one of the reason I liked it was because I could choose to not pay a transaction fee. But recently I noticed blockchain.info's interface has changed, there's no way to not include a transaction fee now? (or am I wrong about that?). 

Was there a change in the Bitcoin protocol to require transaction fee? or are there still clients available that has the function of not paying a transaction fee?
Use Send Custom for full control over fees.

Click Send Money tab, then on the left menu under Transaction Type click Custom.

This URL might get you there.


https://blockchain.info/wallet/login#send-custom