As a grown adult I resent being told that I need to spend x hours in pre-school proving that am not in fact a child (as I am evidently assumed to be by default).

As for making a payment first, I have no BTC, thats what I came here to learn about.

I can offer myself as an example.  I have been reading about bitcoins for the last couple of days and have been giving some thought to buying some.  I also wanted to offer some feedback to a forum member who has started a bitcoin giveaway site designed to help people like me 'get on the ladder' so to speak.

This policy absolutely drives me away as a matter of principle.  This forum appears to be THE source for BTC related information and you are shutting people like me out who may occasionally want to contribute or offer feedback.  I have no intention of making 50 posts just to 'earn' the right to play with the big boys.  

Do you want bitcoins to gain wider acceptance or do you want it to be an exclusive club that can be entered into only by those 'in the know'?  I get the impression of the latter at the moment.