It's a process step in vBulletin that means applications get posted up automatically when the person validates their account. If they are then accepted after a check is run on their details, they are included in the member list. The spammers and other questionable accounts are removed from the Welcome section list when their application is refused within the database admin area - Graham, Bob and Stuart manually delete the threads to try and keep numbers accurate.
And yes, it is the one and the same Tom Hobbs too. And I just remembered I owe him an email that is sitting in my drafts folder.
