This would be something theymos could create: a new rank that shows you're an old user, without disclosing your old account.
If Admin only creates such accounts for users who made a name for themselves, it could be a solution to have and eat the cake!
I too wouldn't mind having more privacy, but once it's gone, there's no way to get it back.
That would be something, but if your new rank, for example, shows as "New Legendary" instead of just "Legendary" then that new account get's "noticed" as well, and some internet detective is going to connect the dots. Anything but the original rank is going to arouse suspicion.
As well, a brand new account with a rank higher than Newbie, would look interesting if it had 0 merits and 1 post or something like that, ... assuming it gets created with the minimum required for that rank, then it would start out with 1000 merits for Legendary, but none earned (and of course no sMerits to give out), I don't think the post count would display properly.
Anyone wanting to actually use the new account would have to "prepare" it by posting real posts for a few days to make it look "normal", then granted the rank or something.
Obviously, any feedback or reputation from the old account would not transfer to the new one.
If it's too much work, admins won't do it and just avoid the issue altogether. And finally, creation date, will it be "today" or back dated?