Duke,
Actually, a quick Google search will show that a handle on vbulletin CAN be deleted and all of the posts will also be deleted.
IF the thread was started by someone, if that handle is deleted, the 2nd poster to the thread will become the thread starter.
There is actually a function to remove handles that have been created and have not logged in for a period of time. I always wondered why it was never used on ASPD and it appears that function is not used here either and given the contest to see who can guess when the site will reach 100,000 members, maybe there is some reason why handles that have been created and never logged on or logged on once 2 years ago are still here in the member list.
https://www.vbulletin.com/forum/show...4-Delete-users
That tells how to delete one user.
But there are scripts to remove inactive acounts.
I think that ECCIE simply continued the pattern that ASPD started of guesting rather than deleting but ECCIE might want to reconsider. Yes, archive sites like Wayback may have copies of the posts and if you guest a handle it is not hard to determine who it was and it will not remove quoted text.
But given today's technology and the way the Internet has changed and improved over the years since ASPD.NET first came online, it might be better to actually delete an account rather than just guest it in some situations.
EDIT TO ADD:
POD,
Threads and even reviews have a shelf life. As noted in this forum now and then, threads about race are numerous and would it hurt if the thread starter handle was deleted and it would appear a the first reply started the thread? Not so much.
I have seen at least one review where the handle that created the review was deleted and it made the thread in the Review forum look strange but because searching for that provider wouldn't return that in most cases, so what.
If a user, provider or client, really needed their hobby presence gone, guesting is not the same but the owners of this site have decided to follow in the footsteps of ASPD and don't delete handles when requested, they guest them.
Could be a numbers game where bragging rights as to number of handles is important and based on the board wide contest to see who can guess when the site hits 100,000 members, that seems to be the criterion rather than protecting a member who asked their posts be removed.
I almost forgot about when I DO know ASPD would remove all traces of a member.
An AA provider in Houston died of AIDS. Her handle was deleted and all posts she made went with that. ALL reviews were immediately deleted and any and all mention of her name were scrubbed.
They didn't want anyone to be black listed for seeing her because of how she died.