A crazy idea for a hack
 

Now I don't think I would ever use something like this unless I beta tested it out many times, but it seems like a interesting idea. I'm more interested in general feedback about a strange idea like this.

Allow guests to post. But guests will be prompted before posting to enter a screen name/username, for their time on the boards. The forum will keep track of each individual guests post count, and say, at 20 posts (admin definable in the admin cp), the guest is automatically registered as a member under the screen name they first picked. As for a password, when they first hit 20 posts they could recieve a screen of some sort telling them they are now a member, and also a random password/ or maybe allow them to create a password right then and there. For those guests who maybe don't make it to 20 posts, say leave off at 12 and never post again, there could be some sort of guest cleaner that deletes all guests who have not posted within 3 (admin definable) days.

Just an interesting idea, I'm not sure how it would really work out, or the problems that might form, unless I try it myself.

like UBB right?

I've never used UBB or posted at one before, so I'm not sure. just sounds like an interesting concept..I would prolly lower it from 20 posts to 10 though. But if your guests are posting 10 times on your forum, and good posts not spam, then they might as welll be registered members because they are attracted to yoru forum. If it is a spammer guests posting on your forum, then you just ban their IP. It really doesn't open up spamming more than there already is, because anybody who is so attracted to spamming at your forum and has to post 10 times to do it will register to do it. But for the member part, it's just a thought..I'll have to look into UBB to see what it does..

It might be hard to make it so that can only post a certain amount since they are guests.

probably cookies would be your best bet