Read on an another thread that one needed 50 posts before being allowed to post outside of the Newbie section. I just found this thread then and realized that this restriction seems to have been lowered in the meantime.
Good decision in my opinion, especially when you have been reading around for a longer time without having registered an account.
First heard about Bitcoins in June when the crash happened. Have been fascinated since, already purchased some coins and have been lurking around here as a reader for a couple of months now. Finally thought that registering an account here might come in handy sooner or later.