Sandra, please register and join in as a member; you are most welcome.
I think most of your question has been eloquently answered by now and there have been a few examples of the advantages and disadvantages of registering.

And if you ever come to Oz and attend the National, we can get Bob to make you a nice Mudcat name badge. By comparison with the northern hemisphere membership there's a lot fewer of us and many of us know each other, even when separated by thousands of kilometres.

Cheers, Rowan