It's unusual to require or even ask for personal information joining name, email, and phone number to register, especially for a free site from an untrusted source. There's no way I'm putting my information in there.
I am deeply offended that you do not trust me, a stranger on the internet!
I am hearing that many people feel that I am asking for too much data. I removed the phone number being necessary for registration.
But I did still want to keep the email verification step, so that I can know that the people using my database are actual people and not bots/trolls, and that I could reach them with new features, and establish a professional relationship going forward.
I hope that simply giving me your name and email, is not too much to ask for going forward. When I meet people at any event, it is often customary to exchange some information to stay in contact.
Cheers!