[Ted S]

Am I correct in assuming that they do this so they can continue to read the forums using Ted's mod designed for guests and by registering and staying in the p "Awaiting Email Validation" status they circumvent the restrictions of it?

If so, is there anyplace I can add this group ID so they get treated like guests until they actually complete the registration process and validate their emails?

I'd actually theorize (with some data to back it) that many remain unconfirmed because they don't realize they are unconfirmed. The email doesn't get to them and your forum doesn't tell them anything is wrong so unless they go looking, they just get stuck. That's why the welcome headers mod I created has a treatment to bug them to confirm.

In any event, you are correct, once registered they are considered a full member even if they don't confirm. You can address this however by modifying the plugin:

if ($show['guest'] AND !$lvgbot AND $vbulletin->options['lgvon'])

Becomes:

if ( ($show['guest'] OR $vbulletin->userinfo['usergroupid'] == 'XXX') AND !$lvgbot AND $vbulletin->options['lgvon'])

Where XXX is the id of your awaiting group