Well, since my servers, systems and software actually are the ones that sit about 10 feet from where I'm writing this, and that's where all the messages are stored - let me add my $0.00002... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
The messages are in UUENCODED TEXT files - and threads are a single TEXT message, with header information.... There are approximately 59,000 of these held within 20 subdirectories. The "software" does little more then render the text files as a message/thread - and then the Message Index holds the "search words". Another small database holds the message ID and location, so the SEARCH knows where to find it....
Furthermore - it is possible to "import/export" these archives in a global import scheme/program - including stripping e-mail addresses and IP addresses (they are the only "personal info contained to the messages) - but frankly - I don't have time to do it.
And moreover - the "contents" of the individual posts belong to the actual person who made the "post", and the overall archives (as the compendium of posts, much like a "magazine"), belong the the site. Which raises some logistical issues, in so far as getting folks permission to copy/use their posts in another media (archive vs. CD).
So - unfortunately - the answer is still "probably not" - but not exactly for the reasons cited...
HTH.....
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