What code they are based on is irrelevant. Slashdot still has a very simple interface (I am using it right now, it is still the best interface) which is easy for bots to interface to using the DOM. Whether it's Perl or C# or Ada underneath makes no difference.
The real question, therefore, is why are we still being subjected to this cowardly anonymous bullcrap? This management has turned off AC posting before, and you could say they turned it back on only because post counts tanked, but have you seen post counts recently? It's now horribly rare to break 100.
Slashdot needs a major overhaul, and I don't mean of the code though that will of course have to change. I mean specifically that mod abuse and AC trolling are driving away every serious poster. My thanks to those of you who still remain, but most of you post less and less, not that I blame you. I presume you're here less, too.