This, for example, is an abominable flaunting of that intention in my opinion:
Major announcement: There is a new private bitcoin forum online. If you belong to the top contributors here,please PM and I will send you an invitation. Finally a place to take the discussion to a new level! 
No vacancies currently, thank you
Personally I don't see any objections to setting up restricted fora, something each may decide for its own. Also 'rpietila's' initiative regards to 'Top Contributors', which includes people of differentiated status. But I can understand your initial annoyance, as it reflects elitism. That's how society works though, birds of a feather flock together. Even Bitcoin can't change that. Major announcement: There is a new private bitcoin forum online. If you belong to the top contributors here,
No vacancies currently, thank you
Also can't blame them, as Bitcointalk is rather bloated with -let's moderately say- less intellectual posts.