I'm not interested in arguing this further, I don't mind conceding this and I don't mind banning all pictures that can be related to any brand because I don't want to take attention away from the point that going all in on this while allowing the other things I just mentioned to remain may not achieve the intended goal.
It really doesn't matter what you mind doing or don't mind doing. You have no choice if you wish to comply with the prohibition against in-thread promotional banners and marketing graphics.
Your cat-themed marketing is clever but I found it shockingly disingenuous of you to suggest that your cat-related graphics have no connection to the promotion of your services/products.
You lobbied aggressively for this prohibition on this type of in-thread marketing but you seem to have forgotten that the rules apply to you just the same as your competitors.
Similarly, of the issues you've mentioned, you've already discovered first-hand that the posting of TD photos by a sources is prohibited. And be assured that this doesn't just apply to you - it applies to all sources.
Customer incentivization is a big problem that provides a challenge for websites like MESO.
At the core, is the fact that many people who post in source threads are not doing it primarily for the good of the community or harm reduction. They are doing so out of self-interest e.g. the source gives them a credit or a discount or freebies, etc if they post a review or post photos. Sometimes this is an explicit quid pro quo.
Other times it is not so obvious. For example, I don't think it is lost on anyone that if they say something positive about a source, there is a good chance they may receive special treatment or some "reward" from the source.
This can and does occur even when a member is motivated to post for the good of the community. What can be done? Does it just goes with the territory? Can members be blamed if a source unknowingly decides to send freebies in their next order? Similarly, could sources be blamed for what would be good business practice in any other business?
Along these lines, some members join the forum solely to participate in a particular source's thread promoting the source with positive reviews and repeatedly and regularly bumping the thread with banter or topical discussions that would be more appropriate in other subforums.
And this is not solely an issue in your competitors' threads. It's an issue in your thread just like any other.
When 9 out every 10 posts a member posts is in a single source thread, you have to wonder especially if they are positive and non-critical posts.
You have quite the influence among your customers. Maybe you can set an example and encourage them to post off-topic discussions in the appropriate subforum or to contribute to the forum in a more meaningful way than simply bumping your thread regularly.
I won't blame you if you don't because this isn't necessarily in your self-interest.
However, I think it is in the best interest of the forum and the community for sources' customers to contribute more broadly than simply hanging out in their favorite source's forum.
How's that for genuine discussion?
I don't understand the reason for it... But rules are rules, I guess.
