Gurney IS a nickname, but one from my preteens, so no-one but me remembers it. I use it as a pen name and identification name in all my browsing. If anyone Googles it, you will only get some of my Mudcat posts and a lot about other people, not me.
I only started using it, before I joined Mudcat, because pseudonyms seemed to be de rigueur on line. My own name is already taken on my provider. I use my personal name on the Personal Page with members.

To answer the question: No, a personal name would not make me add any weight to anyone's comments, since I only know about 6 members personally. However, reading Mudcat posts several days a week, I feel I know most regular posters under their Mudcat names well enough to have discourse with them.