KotDB: Still, I find this change confusing. Yesterday, seeing smileys was a privilege reserved for paying members. Today, not seeing smileys is a privilege reserved for paying members. Why? This change affects only pawns, yet it was implemented suddenly at the request of a handful of rooks.

Yes that's odd! That's really odd!
If the change has been suggested by Rooks as you say i find it somewhat ridiculous.... Why Rooks should care about what Pawns can see or not? It's simply none of their(our) business what Pawns should see or not.....
AND the only logical reason i can think of for what happened(Rooks requested that feature), is some Pawns to have requested from some of their Rook friends to say on this board this request because as Rooks will get more attention....



Fencer: I've just followed a request of paying members which is, of course, more important than a complaint of non-paying members.

Yes but don't you find it odd that Rooks request a feature that doesn't affect them at all but only affects Pawns?
For example if i and 8-9 more Rooks ask as a request that Pawns should see their page with negative colors then you should do it?
OK you would say this is not a logical request, but what i'm trying to say is that every request of a Rook that affects ONLY Pawns and not them is not logical! And can be explained only by a Pawn's intervention to the Rook to make the request since he will receive more attention....