I just want to request that it become hard to get an account initially and that posting be just as easy as it is now, with no CAPTCHA or other tighter security on the posting process itself.

I have to agree with this.

Having said that, I certainly agree that "something" needs to be done about the recent spate of spammers. Keep in mind though any measures that are taken to abate the problem is normally a PITA to the innocent and guilty alike.

Some of my thoughts on this:

• Use a mail back scheme to validate accounts. Meaning when a new monk arrives at the Monastery send them an email pointing to a customized link validating their email address as being valid. While this is certainly not foolproof, I know I could write an auto-responder for that, it raises the bar a little. Much as I hate CAPTCHA, a hate that is visceral to the point of mania, maybe the page generated by the custom link could have CAPTCHA as a secondary layer of validation.
• CAPTCHA on the registration page. See my comments above. I always have trouble reading CAPTCHA images and I'm certain I am not the only one.

Where I am going with this is some means to tie a newly generated login with a real person. Other steps can be taken once the person is identifiable.

The obvious hole in all this is the technique of creating a "throw away" account on Yahoo, Hotmail, <fill in blank> or whatever.