[hadley]

I'll tell you the point:

I have a site with a ton more content than the forums alone, and forcing people to register is one way (via subsequent emails) to introduce them to other parts of the site that they may regard as more valuable than the forums. I want the same thing that Dynamite wants.

Yes, I do understand that most forums exist for discussion, but mine now contain two years of valuable content and expert advice -- many people are satisfied to read that Q&A exchange with experts, and don't see the need to post. However, I think it's fair that I ask them for their email address (with full opt-out privileges, of course), before I grant them access.

An example: Ordinarily, I wouldn't bother to make this post, because I know most of you don't care. But it bothers me that someone from the vB.com team would make a comment like "what's the point." In the real world of business, number of users is the point.