perhaps I should clarify.
The TUG member only section (ratings/reviews, sales history, and marketplace) all run on the server tug2.com. This is the paid section of TUG, to post ads, read reviews, etc...you have to be a paying TUG member ($15 to join, $10 to renew)
The TUGBBS forums (ie here) run on the server tugbbs.com. This site is free and open to the public, anyone is free to register and participate here free of charge, completely independent of your TUG membership. These two systems (our custom member only system, and the vbulletin software running here) are completely independent.
Thus the need for you to input your "bbs member code" to indicate you are a paying TUG member here on the forums as there is no actual link between your TUGBBS registration, and your TUG membership.
Many people think of the TUGBBS as "TUG" and others have no idea what the TUGBBS even is, and have no desire to particpate on an internet forum etc.
The messages referred to in this thread are about inquiries to users classified ads posted in the marketplace (you have to be a member to post an ad).
To send a message about an ad however, does not require membership...as the ads themselves are open to the public.
Your name and contact info is NOT displayed on the ads for spam purposes. The main drawback to the old legacy ad system was the fact that your contact information was out in the open, and thus subjected any member posting an ad there to massive amounts of spam and phone calls.
With the new system, your name and email are NOT displayed on the ad at all, and your phone number is an optional addition (ie your choice).
You can however put anything you want in the description of the ad, so if you really want your contact info on the ad page, you are certainly able to put it there.
However the only ones I've seen who choose to do this, are generally brokers and businesses.