[dismas]

Personally, I don't register at any site where I have to register to just be able to see anything at all. So, if everything is locked, I go somewhere else. The same goes for sites where the only unlocked stuff is the off topic areas. I have memberships to enough forums that if I want an off topic area to talk and read, I'll go there. It's not a "selling point" for me. So in the mind of an admin, they may be thinking, "Hey look at this great off topic area we have. And if you sign up, you'll get into the tech (or whatever) section too." That just doesn't fly for me. The "selling point" is those other areas. The real content. So if I don't know or can't see what I'm getting, I don't sign up.