Very good solution, to the problem!
And very diplomatic
Congrats to the reinstated members
Make sure you clean your computer just in case of any thing that might have been on there that could have led to the pb scan that got you in the first place before you reinstall.
INFO FROM THE WIKI:
Global GUID bans and Hardware bans
PunkBuster incorporates a system called global banning. Either the GUID (generated from the CD key[citation needed]) or parts of the computer hardware are banned from PunkBuster enabled servers. Most cheats simply will get a detection, but cheats that interfere with PunkBuster's software could get a global GUID ban. This will disallow access to PunkBuster enabled servers for that particular game. However, GUID bans can be easily bypassed by obtaining a different GUID. Cheats which are even more interfering could end up getting the user banned from all PunkBuster enabled games by a hardware ban.
As of June 30, 2004, Even Balance has incorporated the usage of unique hardware identifiers to permanently ban players from all PunkBuster enabled servers who raise a violation that corresponds to hacking or interfering with PunkBuster's normal operation and therefore violating the EULA.
Even Balance uses multiple private one-way hashes[citation needed] so that no serial number information for individual computers can be determined by admins or anyone else who may try to obtain this information from a hardware GUID.
PunkBuster only gives a hardware ban if memory scans show that a cheat that is known to circumvent or disrupt PunkBuster's normal operation or its facilities is activated.
As with previous PunkBuster GUID global bans, the new hardware GUID bans are permanent and will not be lifted. Even Balance has not disclosed which hardware parts are used to ban players, but trial and error has shown[citation needed] that the hardware GUID is based on the serial numbers of all available hard drives but not the MAC addresses.
According to their EULA, Even Balance has the final say in matters of banning.