User avatars are back.
I’ve installed a new plugin which allows you to upload an image from your own PC (less than 150px) to use as a site avatar if you don’t want to use the gravatar.com system.
Enjoy, but if this plugin proves to affect other parts of the site it may get withdrawn.
To use it, display your own profile and scroll down to the Avatar section, here you get the choice of a using Gravatar.com or uploading your own image