I was typing away and then went to post in the original thread but got locked out so here is idea below instead of letting it disappear.....
all that typing
I agree with cavey on the log in status - everyone should have their name seen and not hidden as a
guest or
hidden - it just encourages lurkers
Also I have been thinking of a way to determine some facts of what people want to see
maybe all members have to do a poll before further / new post / thread reading can be viewed by EVERYONE including
guests and
hiddens - maybe 10 simply questions to answer via a multiple choice poll, but to keep it clean no welcoming posts just everyone's first post - as might aid in giving everyone an insight to what people want to view and why they have joined:
something like
Q1 - Where to you live Country - Australia, Germany, UK, USA, Spain etc
Q2 - Do you have any pins - 0, 1-3, 4-7, 8-10, over 10
Q3 - Have you joined AP to learn / read - Restores, Mods, Technical Help, Sales, General, Local Pinheads
Q4 - Do you intend to contribute with posts and new threads - Yes, No
Q5 - Do you intend to read only - Yes, No
Q6 - Do you intend on doing a restore in the next year - Yes, No
Q7 - What era machine do you like - EM, SS, DMD, Unknown as learning
Q8 - Do you frequent other forums - AA, Pinside, etc
Q9 - Would you like to team up with other pinballers in your area - Yes, No
Q10 - Have you left another forum due to - forum policing, aggressive posters, too much posts about restores, too much posts about modding, too much posts about new machines, too much rubbish or crap posts etc you get where I am coming from
Q11 - Would you donate $2 a year if you are happy with the site - Yes, No
I think if everyone completed a poll before they could read anything it would help you the forum owners get a better picture and the results of the overall poll made public so we can see the stats would be interesting and maybe a updated poll once a year to see if members views have changed like some of the above but including:
Q11 - Are you shocked by the total hours you are logged in - Yes, No
This will give you a real good look at what people are into and why they have joined and keep coming back.
I am not sure if this is possible but surely a yearly poll could be enforced at a particular date for the current members and a poll for every new member could be automated and encouraged.
Maybe a $2 donation after each yearly poll for further access - after all you give us a awesome place to chat, and $2 is nothing and like Cavey said the request for the yearly poll will sift out the returning numbers.
thoughts 
Edit - Change title.
