rewrite based on PR feedback:

* [ ] split config options into allowed_local_3pids and registrations_require_3pid
 * [ ] simplify and comment logic for picking registration flows
 * [ ] fix docstring and move check_3pid_allowed into a new util module
 * [ ] use check_3pid_allowed everywhere

@erikjohnston PTAL

synapse/util/threepids.py

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2018 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import logging
+import re
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def check_3pid_allowed(hs, medium, address):
+    """Checks whether a given format of 3PID is allowed to be used on this HS
+
+    Args:
+        hs (synapse.server.HomeServer): server
+        medium (str): 3pid medium - e.g. email, msisdn
+        address (str): address within that medium (e.g. "wotan@matrix.org")
+            msisdns need to first have been canonicalised
+    """
+
+    if hs.config.allowed_local_3pids:
+        for constraint in hs.config.allowed_local_3pids:
+            logger.debug("Checking 3PID %s (%s) against %s (%s)" % (
+                address, medium, constraint['pattern'], constraint['medium']
+            ))
+            if (
+                medium == constraint['medium'] and
+                re.match(constraint['pattern'], address)
+            ):
+                return True
+    else:
+        return True
+
+    return False