app guild-type things in games always really tick me off. If I talk to a person in the guild, and they think I check out, I should get in period. I have always adamantly refused to "apply" for any guild/linkshell as though I were applying for a ****ing job.
**** that right up the back plumbing.
On a less animated note, it seems to take away from the "friendliness" of joining a new sub-community.