Maybe the forums go member only randomly to try and force lurkers into registering and paying $20 or whatever. I mean a few Bitcoin members have already said they signed up so it seems to work.
I've heard that only gets you into a decoy forum, which makes sense because I signed up over there and the thread I see is just a bunch of joking around. They're obviously doing the real planning elsewhere.
I'd be inclined to donate some bucks to SA out of appreciation for their role in the Bruce outing. Seems like they could use some system engineering help.
As for a members account, I'll pass. Although there are some gems to be found, they are labor intensive to dig out and these clannish social organization deals are not my thing generally. Seems like they even charge you to upload a personal avatar or something. And they laugh at Bitcoiners of throwing their money away???
No matter what I'll only fund SA if they can figure out how to take BTC.