If possible, I would opt for a review of the current forum limitations. Affecting new members, these folks have a really hard time reaching out for the user to user help and I would fear that quite some eventually give up, on the product/company.  :-/

There is nothing worse than climbing the registration hurdles (captcha anyone?) while then being limited to using only existing threads or even running the risk of getting banned.

As a hopefully constructive suggestion, I would name the method of asking for the product code, once, to then instantly receive the rights to post in the corresponding forum sections. Third parties use codes too which can be verified. If this is too much to ask for, I shall point to other forums keeping spammers in check while not generating cases like the following.

As a recent example case of a spoiled customer, take this one. I do admit that I understand some of the (initial) reactions and I don't see how CS benefits from that kind of outcome as a company. http://forum.avsim.net/topic/456186-b777-climbs-extremely-slow

On that case. Can we help the guy please?  :(