Function of the "ideas" section on the discussion forum

I would appreciate someone explaining the operation / function / purpose of the "ideas" portion of the discussion forum. It appears at this point that the "ideas" allow voting on the merit of the idea but only if you are a member of the User Group which submitted the idea. That has some merit but is limiting at the same time. It tends to force someone interested in voting for an idea to become a "member" regardless of where they are located geographically. I have no problem with anyone becoming a "member" of MARISUG's Discussion forum group. Is it possible to place an idea outside of a group to allow general voting?

SolidworksGeneral