"Being unable to post as a guest will make the Secret Santa a problem."

I've run or participated in several SS's on other MBs where posting as Guests is not allowed, and we've never had any problmes...

"difficult to answer questions posed by anyone other then a registered user"
Most decent message boards these days make one register in order to acces them at all... and they require a legitimate, ISP provided internet addy as well... Mudcat could do LOTS worse to follow suit...

" Bottom line anyway is that this is how Max wants it."
There you are correct... though concerned Mudcatters might prefer it if he changed it... it can't hurt to suggest...