yes i've since been talking to someone on your team badboy i think..
and although i (sort of) understand the reasoning a little better now..
i think the arguments for registration was pretty weak and could be worked around..
still it's your guys project and you do what you like at the end of the day.
one reason i think had some validity was bandwidth control.. namely hot linking.
i made suggestions of referrer tags, captcha codes, or offsite storage on free file hosts (there are a number of both good & quick ones out there megaupload.com & newload.in are both great even as free services)
this would of course save you guys money on hosting since 100% of the bandwidth for downloads would be eliminated.
none of those was well received.
the sticking point was contact with users.. but imo this is somewhat faulty.
1. 0 post account does'nt = user (they could have decided not to use it after testing)
2. just because someone is using hyper spin does'nt mean they wanna be bugged about "updates"
i personally think message boards should be an "after the fact" concept.. for when you're interested and wanna talk more about it, not a requirement to get your foot in the door.
lets also consider that the 85% of those inactive accounts are taking up names that other more interested/active users might like to have.. but can't.
i also dislike the idea of registering for every little thing, sure HS is just one thing.. but what if i had to go register to download mame? and download my favorite webbrowser (seamonkey), to watch a youtube clip (individually), etc etc..
registering seems like such a small request on it's face but it sometimes it is'nt, and can become a slippery slope.
this sort of reminds me when i opened up a bank account, my bank gave me checking and a savings accounts.. i told them.. nah i dont want the savings accounts, i was givin savings account anyway, true to my word i did'nt use it they closed it after 12months of inactivity.. pretty moronic if you ask me.
now honestly i could probably find a copy of HS offsite as quickly as it would take me to register.. i've spent much more then that discussing it.. so this is'nt a "time" issue here, this is'nt a "lazy" issue.. it's a principle issue.
i do hope people can understand my POV on this, even if they dont agree with it.
and i do not expect you guys to change your operating protocol over there.
now that i've gotten about as much insight from badboy as i think im gonna get (really more then i thought i would at first) im happy to leave it the way it is, although i think the reasoning is weak i'll respect it and not beat a dead horse to death, or is that redeath? or maybe back to life?, er anyway you get the picture.