I am a bit late to the dance here, as I have been offline on vacation for nine days or so, and have read this whole thread straight through from the start, all nine pages of posts.

From my point of view the OP was expressing his suggestions for behavior that would be least likely to set off a frakas or get stomped by the mods. No problems there.

Personally I think Jamie, Jock, and Steve spoke most eloquently on differing points of view about how and whether to provide responses to photos asking for opinions or just showing off their kilt stuff.

As a person with a fair amount of managerial training, combined with a job which also requires me to frequently inform my clients of significantly "bad" news, my years of limited experience and training led me to the technique of positives first and negatives last-----some would call it "good news, bad news". Most folks do well with hearing wha is right and what does work, and by doing so you have set the table for what they know is coming next--the bad news. Again, if said in a courteous and forward thinking constructive way criticism can be absorbed a lot easier. That way nobody is blowing smoke anywhere, we can each get our opinions put out there, hopefully in a way which will be heard, understood, and given due consideration.

But above all, courtesy, honesty, kindness, respect, and forethought. Please.