I'm not particularly arsed either way if I'm honest. The only ones that really bugged me were the ones who would click through the warnings not to have a naked avi and upload one anway, determined to shove their peen in everyones face.
The way I look at it, if someone has an avatar like that, we're likely here for different reasons. My guard is up when they contact me, because I feel like they showed their hand, even if its a sad little one word 'hi' message (who responds to those?!) and I'm not interested. Each to their own and it will be appealing to those who find it appealing, so it kinda works. But if someone asked me for my opinion on their avi then I'd tell them. So I find it quite a useful (if unintended) indicator in a roundabout way.
I don't think it's a coincidence that the LPSG men I find most fascinating are more subtle in their choices or choose something that isn't their peen. I find I'm far more likely to recognise someone from what they say/how they say it than usernames or avis (I'm pretty bad with both)
