They have folded the 'open' style of the BBS into the MSN net Communities and chat sites. To use them you have to register, providing a minimal amount of personal info.

One thing this does is fix your nic, or posting name. While it can be changed, if you change it you're stuck with it for thirty days.

Also, while the communities can be trolled, the perps can also be tracked, and banned for various periods of time.

I think MSN wanted more control over the boards. Also, moving the boards to their Community servers let's them cut out whatever servers/hardware they had to keep up for the boards. It also lets them load the Communities with Adverts.

(didn't use the MSN boards, just did some checking when they shut them down)