Since gallery access is coming up as a concern and the consensus is to keep it to paying members, perhaps free membership is signed on as thread access only for posting purposes.

I don't really look at the gallery so it doesn't mean much to me. However, I also wouldn't post my own pictures if I couldn't look, and wouldn't respond to pm's outside of interest in my posts. This way forum only members won't be bothered with "Do you have pictures of your ****, and paying members can see each other. If a paying member and a free member wish to exchange pictures then can do so thru their email or pm's.