[ricki]

... probably not, but hopefully a step in the right direction.

Pending Lenard coming up with another solution, I've shifted the configuration to where the administrator will be emailed upon new registrations. I will have a chance to checkout some limited aspects of the applicant which may or may not tip off that it is a spambot. Either way, it should reduce the number of these pests getting on here. It will also mean a slight delay in legitimate users getting signed up.