I could go along with the first part - purging un-used accounts.
But I don't like the second part where active users that have left get 'unpersoned', to use a George Orwell-ish term.
My best example of this is tilly, a fantastic contributor who has been forced by his employer to stop visiting the Monastery. (Professional Employees and Works for Hire) If tilly - or anyone - decides to return after a long absence, he should not have to start over as an initiate - his old posts should continue to bear his name.
s!!password!;y?sordid?binger?;
y.paw.mrk.;;print chr 0x5b ;;;
print;print chr(0x5b+0x2);;;;;
