BugMeNot is a great project and the Mozilla extension makes it even easier to use. The BugMeNot FAQ points out the stupidity and anti-web nature of the compulsory registration sites.

It makes you wonder why sites like The Age still try to introduce these outmoded pre-cluetrain concepts. Imagine having the choice of two shops, one which asked you to fill in a 3 page form for everything you bought or one that just let you buy stuff, which would you choose? And how exactly is pissing off your customers a good business plan?

Incidentally, I'm very tempted to follow BugMeNot's registration scheme or demand that:

Any subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, or employees of any site employing compulsory user registration mechanisms are not authorized to access the content or services of this site.

Draconian? Sure, but no more so than compulsory registration.