My real issue is not so much I don't like having to register...groo points out
why there is no security in that, but rather lack of accessibility.
Meaning I rather use google to search all forums then have to go
register with all relevant website then use their crappy search engine
To maybe find what I am looking for. If anyone can
read the forum then Google can index it,
which means I can quickly search them all.
Also in some work environments you cannot register or sign up to hobby sites
(for a variety of reasons), but quickly viewing them for
a bit of information is ok. Folks will vote with their feet. Ultimately I
guess the thinking is by the site ops is that lurkers don't really make
the site more valuable, and having a nice long list of valid email
addresses is as good as money in the bank.