Dave - I too was wondering about the "hidden" - I've discovered that it's simply a profile preference activated by any user...but I share your questioning of it...why would a member wish to to do this...?
In any event it's as easy to view the forum "invisibly" as all one has to do is log out from one's profile and navigate from there.
Sorry to explain away ...another potentially fascinating conspiracy theory that I could sense developing ...as easily as that - but I think that given time you'll be back to entertain us with more suggestions from the dark side...!
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