If you want to use IP bans against bots and spammers, you'd have to ban all VPNs, too, not sure if that's realistic.
Post pre-commit filters that work somewhat similarly to ad blockers, except they'd execute just prior to posting, would be a million times more efficient, but after a quick glance at the current version of this forum software (vBulletin 6), it doesn't look like such functionality is supported even in the latest release.
Thanks for the offer, Josh
, when I visit Ted's shop again in Waterbury, I can hop on over to you and sip some of the good stuff after finally checking out your amazing garage.