Interesting Frank,
You probably know more about this than I do, but here is what I can figure out.....
The system has no idea who you are other than your sign-in name and password combination. So, if you can't sign in, and request your password reset information be sent to a legitimate email address , That The System Has Loaded, (such as Chris's, Stecz's, Mine, Alec's, Yours, etc.) it does that.
If you request it be sent to a non-loaded email address that the system does not recognize, it says it does not recognize that email address.
I'm running more tests, but you may be able to assist at this point.
I can see no way for the system to have a clue who you are until you sign in. If you do not sign in and make a request, the system looks at what is loaded and says "Sure, I can send your request there", or "No, I can't send it there, it doesn't exist", (as far as it knows).
From what I can find, all V-Bulletin systems do the same thing.