suggestion

em... I have no idea about this forum system. My idea is base on Discuzz system where I have some experience on it. at that system, administrator can grant approval of course.

T, do not think too complicated, all ppl will just register as usual and proceed to the buyer list to identify themself where we are already doing this now and will get approval granted by admin/moderator.

My idea here is just to avoid anonymous posting as you mention. I do not means to grouping the users, it will be too bias and why I belong to this group and cannot go for other groups? AH1 have their own group and AH2 another group? AH1 buyer cannot post in AH2 group? That is too much work and I myself will not like to be "group" it is sound too "controling"

That will not have the issue of "non-approve" group also, it should have so call "pending approval" group temporary while waiting for approval after they identify in buyer list. For thos non-buyer, they should not proceed to registration because we should already provide certain topic for those visitors, potential buyer for them go get the information they needed. others topic is mainly for buyers to discuss and brainstorming their topic. visitor should not involve in this. So for those register but not identify themself will eventually get remove with no mercy :p

regarding the future security post for JMB commitee or senior member, Discuzz have some "merit" system and post can set a minimum require merit point to participate the topic. By this way, admin can assign special merit point to certain member to join the topic. This is how I control in discuzz. About criteria, agains it is very subjective, maybe only for those become JMB commitee member to grant the access. (let put this aside as for now)

Against, I have no idea on how this forum system work, so if it cannot be perform.... I just can say its too bad...
just my 2cents

Well, let's start cleanup the members database as the first step then we slowly proceed to another step. Will this be a good idea?

when i mentioned grouping i don't mean to have too many groups and group the users until that detail, unless of course if that provides better identification as AH1 and AH2 groups can have identical access and virtually similar to "registered user".. it's more of identification purposes instead of group and control..

anyway, i'm okay with any method as long as objective is met, it's all up to the forum's capabilities and boss' decision in implementing it appropriately and accordingly