Dave,

You wouldn't be stopped from posting because you had a different IP address.

The idea of tracking the IP addresses is to 'identify' you.

However, as others have mentioned above, it's pretty ineffectual.

I totally agree with you about it stopping new members joining. When I think of all the sites which tell me they'll email me a password, I just think 'sod this' and move on.

I fear the 'Cat will suffer in the same way

Jabjo