" It is a pain in the neck to reset my cookie every time I come to mudcat for a few minutes of browsing. "

that is not a problem...we have very regular posters, well known and friendly, who haven't set a cookie for several years. But they take a moment to type in their name before they post...takes, what...5 seconds? It just IDENTIFIES their post and makes readers WANT to talk and share.

Art Thieme, "Dale" and several others do just fine with no cookies, though Art would, if he could make it work, I gather. *grin*

Having a cookie set 'can' be useful for certain things...if you want those features, but IT AIN'T NECESSARY!