Well...
Having the user ranks gone may have cut down on some of the SPAMing, but really, the SPAM will never stop.
Having the user ranks back wouldn't be bad, and having them not there wouldn't be bad, either.
So really, I have no clue. O.O *looks empty minded* I don't really know, to tell you the truth.
- Tama -
EDIT:
I think user ranks should come back, but as a privilege. If people start spamming and causing trouble because of them, then just take them away again as a punishment.
Well, there are people that SPAM about it, and others that don't.
For the ones that do, yeah, they could have it taken away. But if one person has it taken away, then the whole board has to have it taken away (... Right?). And for the people that don't SPAM have to have it taken away because of the people that do SPAM about it. So, it is not fair for the people that don't SPAM about it.
So that's why I say either keep it, or leave it, don't do both. Because otherwise, someone, either the SPAMers or the non-SPAMers, are getting the short end of the line.
Just my thought...