RottnDogue, I'm sure you'll find this hard to believe - but we consider all these things VERY carefully before they are implemented. If for no other reason than there it is an absolute 100% certainty that no matter what we do that some people will be upset with that change. We try to make changes that will benefit the majority of users while inconveniencing a minority of them. Our other option is to make no changes ever, I doubt that anyone would want that.
Let's take your latest thought on avatars for example. When we looked at the avatars we found that ~20% of the bandwidth usage on the site was avatars - and we were shocked. Your avatar alone for example (one of the smaller ones, btw) is about the same size as 7 signatures that are 300 characters long - and avatars are shown on every single post, unlike how signatures are posted now. So you could have 7 posts out there with a 300 character signature on it (which would mean you added 7 new threads) and you'd be using the same bandwidth with those signatures if you posted only once with an avatar on it. Bandwidth costs money, and the TDR isn't averse to spendng money on the website - far from it, they've spent a ton this year. However, when they found that 20% of the bandwidth that was the avatars it was decided that the money could be spent much better elsewhere (more features, limited signatures on by default, etc) than on the avatars. In addition when we removed the avatars we received far more compliments that they were removed because of load times than those complaining that they were removed (at least 20 to 1).
The signatures were a like scenario. We received at least as many complaints regarding what happened to users signatures (although they were still there, you just had to check a box) as we received compliments that they were no longer there and that they were happy with the faster load times. As a COMPROMISE between the two different sides we decided to split it down the middle and limit signature lengths, then turn them back on by default and only show them on the first post on a page as well as adding a new field which would allow you to post whatever you wanted in your truck profile.
I truly wish I were a miracle worker and could make 100% of our 12,000 plus users happy with any changes made. However, that will never ever happen. Thus far with this change there have been far more people happy with the change than those that are complaining - many of those posted behind the scenes in emails and PM's.
Remember as I've said above if YOU wish to check out every detail then you have the OPTION to click on the profile button at the bottom of a post and get every detail about a persons truck, life, etc if they wish to post it. By the feedback I've gotten from the majority of users they'd much rather that you have to click on one more link to get that information when you want to than they having to look at it in the threads.
BTW, my estimate based on looking at a number of threads before and after the signature change is that the bandwidth usage will be basically the same under the current system based on everyone having a 300 character signature posted the first time on a thread versus most posts not having a signature but the ones that were there being as long as they were (along with images, etc). Under this system more information get's out there and the extra unnecessary info is cut out - but if you want to look at that you can too. Try to give us a little credit that we've researched this and aren't making rash decisions - as I said above we know that some users will complain no matter what we do so we weigh our decisions carefully.
Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
