For some people, having their "real name" known is an advantage to their work or to a variety of personal activites in which they may be involved.

Some people will, intentionally or otherwise, be well enough known that they feel that it doesn't matter if they use a real name.

For most of us who are relatively unknown, and who have no particular reason to be known by a real name, a handle provides a degree of anonymity. This anonymity has little value here, among mostly trusted (and mostly trustworthy) friends, but provides a degree of "protection" against having our name picked up by unknown visitors, bots, search engines, and such.

You make your own evaluation of whether having your real name publicly exposed is a plus or a minus, and are welcome to use a "mudcat name" if you don't see an advantage to using your real name.

As has been mentioned, being a member gives you access to additional information at mudcat, including access to the photos and personal information that other members choose to have posted. Not all members have posted information, but what is there can be helpful in "relating to" those with whom you exchange thoughts in your posts.

Being a member allows you to send and receive personal messages to/from other members, which allows private communication of personal information you may wish to exchange with other individuals once you get to know them.

In the rare instance when you might "oops" in some way, or have a problem with access or with another member, being a registered member permits "the management" to communicate privately with you if there's a need to discuss a problem, or if you disappear for a while and someone just gets worried about you other members can PM you to ask about your welfare in private.

Once a few particular friends are known, private communication via Personal Messages (PMs) can foster friendships, exchange information, publicize your musical activities to those peculiarly interested, and occasionally answer simple questions relating to your interests and concerns without splattering them all over the internet.

As a member, you can communicate via PMs with others on subjects that may not be of sufficient general interest to merit public discussion in the open threads; and quite a lot of this kind of private discussion does take place among many of the members.

Although it doesn't seem to happen too often, if you post as "GUEST,Texas Guest," anyone else can "be GUEST,Texas Guest," and might say things you don't find suitable to your identity. Once your member name is set up, only someone who knows your password can impersonate you, and it's assumed that you're not going to give your password away.

John