I love aliases!!!...unless they're used to hide as you mentioned. I wish everyone used aliases because the name usually is associated with one's character. For instance "Rikdcop"... because it tells a little about someone instead of just a dull normal name like Rick Whaley or Richard Rosales who of course is Tokeneer. That's why I made my e-mail address with the same name so everyone would associate me with a name they could recognize. All can see it in the SS register. Even VEGASPLAYER with his other names tells a little about him.
But all aliases aren't easy to figure out sometimes because for years I thought Rick was a retired RICKETY COP then recently found out it really means "Rick THE Cop". Well, I was close anyway.