EDIT TO ADD:I know it's possible, and just the other day I ran into a thread like you describe, where the OP was gone. Take away the original post and it's weird, but if the thread has many posts that have been removed, it becomes unreadable.
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. Originally Posted by LazurusLong
I don't agree that threads have a shelf life. If they did there would be no reason for the ASPD threads forum. I'd say it's more like a "half life", because the value never hits zero.
There are always the exceptions to the rule, and it seems like that's how management sees it with not deleting profiles. I just can't get my head around the idea that the guesting, disabling, and rarity of erasing is about something as trivial as member statistics. I don't know, but it's not my choice for most likely reason.
Edited to add...
Speaking of weird, the appearance that you answered my post hours before I posted it, is a great parlor trick. It took me a minute to figure it out.