I really, really, like this site and the forum. I have to say it is the best, and most polite forum I have ever seen in all my years of computing and the internet. Everyone here is so helpful.
One of the things I do like is that there are no avatars. As others have said it gives Patrick less to have to police, and also means there is nothing for people to find offensive. Let's remember here that it is a big world and what one person sees no offence in another can see a lot of offence in. It can easily be done and more often than not totally unintentionally too.
For my 2 pennies worth, please leave it as it is.