John's pretty much got it nailed...The Ledge used a different format prior to 2000. So, when this was implemented, everybody had to reapply for membership.
My chronology may be a little off, but I could've sworn that the Ledge began more in the "mid 90s" rather than "late 90s" (due to there still being snippy threads regarding the then fairly recent album called
Time), but that's just me being nit-picky. But, then when do ANY threads that discuss
Time ever NOT become "snippy", even today?
