such a state has not ever existed here to my knowledge. I know for a fact it hasn't existed for at least 5 years and quite possibly much longer then that.

Even if we accept this as the case - would a state where all posters were posting on equal terms really be so undesirable?

I suggest it would be better that the current state of our forum which the Chief of the Mudcat Editing Team seems to finds so unacceptable without changing it to a private members only club.