I think they started requiring a real phone number type identification to deal with the issue instead of any type of real IP/region/rate-limited/Captcha based spam detection.

I used it up until they asked for a real phone number. It was kinda cute, but yea, mostly filled with college students. Depending on where I travelled in the world, there may have been messages from three weeks ago on the top for that area. I was surprised how many remote areas had at least a few yackers; although very few non-English posts.

I think my favourite Yak: "If you ever feel down about Uni, just remember there's still someone from your home town trying to make it as a rapper."