well, the answer is easy, but I don't know if the programming to implement the easy answer is also easy.

You have members with cookies who sometimes log out...like to discuss Secret Santa doings, or jokingly assume the identity of P. Endicott Cruthwaite for a moment, and thus their cookie is not read. BUT! Their IP remains the same unless they go thru some arcane process to mask or change it. 'Upper Management'..Joe, Jeff, Max...have access to those IP numbers.
....Now, *IF* there were a way to compare the IP of P. Endicott to the known list of gen-you-wine members' IPs, and allow P. Endicott to post 'semi'-anonymously (identifiable if necessary), we could still have 'most' of the benefits of member-only posting in the BS section, without making it impossible for Chongo to pass out his immortal words for our edification!!!!
This could also make it VERY difficult for petulant members to use anonymity to harass others.


You see? Now, there's the idea....I'd bet it is possible, I just don't know how tricky it would be.