Just got a reply back. As promised, here's what I found out.
The Vault will not be accessible if you use the "Donate" links around the site. Access is only granted by using the "Membership" tab. As brtsimpson said, the Vault should be available in the next couple of weeks. We will know when the Vault is open by a Twitter posting.
Due to files being lifted, I understand that IP addresses will be tracked. The audio files will also be watermarked, so it's quite possible that these audio files won't be completely clean. That's a huge letdown.
I would be fine with watermarked stuff being in the free section; however, if I'm paying, I want to hear 100% clean files with good sound quality. This, alone, may affect whether or not I am still interested in a membership. (The "Cross Wits" package that was given out in the past was apparently given the same treatment. If anyone received a "Cross Wits" digital reel and can elaborate on the sound quality and the digital watermarking, it may give us a better insight on what we are to expect.)
Tyler