Curious more than anything - what do you think is the primary reason for having an alias?
I have 3 aliases - 2 of which I no longer have the log-in information, so they exist, but can't be used (no longer have the emails for those accounts). I have one that is widely known among the soccer community, but maybe not widely known throughout the forums.
None of the accounts were created to avoid a suspension.
I would guess that the vast majority of aliases were created with two things in mind - 1) schtick - the alias name has a joke/schtick background, or 2) simply creating an alter-ego to allow someone to post an opinion that they may not want associated with their regular username (which, ironically, is an alias in and of itself). There may be some recent users who create aliases to avoid suspensions - but anyone who has been here 10+ years and has an alias probably did not create to simply to avoid suspension - a few probably did. But, most people here do not get lengthy suspensions.
*I know of a few alias accounts, not mine, that were destined to draw a suspension -
@BoredStormtrooper I am looking at you....(suspension currently slated to end in 2084).