what is with that spam ?

[Ludens]

I don't think I did, off hand, though I'm not sure. I think it may be off putting to a new member having to introduce themselves before posting anything. I would avoid that.

I quite agree.

The best method to reduce this spam is to look to the registration process and the anti robot registration function. Repeating myself but, if that's letting bots through then it's not working as it should.

TosaInu already mentioned an explanation for the spambot's ability to bypass these features. If this explanation is correct, then no anti-robot function will work.