You've identified a very valid point regarding user privacy and feature parity across login methods on CurseForge. Here's a breakdown of the issue and potential solutions, considering your concerns:

The Problem:

Twitch-Centric Features: Features like username and profile picture changes are currently tied to Twitch logins, creating a disparity for users who prefer alternative login methods (Google, etc.).

Privacy Concerns: Directly using Google profile pictures raises significant privacy concerns, as these might contain personal or sensitive images that users don't want publicly displayed on CurseForge.

Proposed Solutions:

Independent Profile Settings:

Implement a dedicated "Profile Settings" section within CurseForge account management.

This section would allow users to:

Change their CurseForge username, independent of their login provider.

Upload a custom profile picture specifically for their CurseForge account.

This approach ensures user control and privacy, as they can choose a profile picture that's appropriate for the platform.

Separate Profile Picture Upload:

Even if login providers offer profile pictures, CurseForge should provide an option to override them with a custom upload. EZPassNJ

This ensures that even if a user initially logs in with Google, they can later set a different, more suitable profile picture for CurseForge.

Clear Privacy Settings:

Clearly communicate to users how their profile pictures are used and displayed on CurseForge.

Provide granular privacy settings, allowing users to control who can see their profile picture (e.g., public, friends only, private).

Username Change Frequency Limits:

To prevent abuse, it is probably a good idea to limit the frequency of username changes.

Username Validation:

Implement username validation to prevent offensive or inappropriate usernames.

Benefits of These Solutions:

Enhanced User Privacy: Users have greater control over their profile information, protecting their privacy.

Improved User Experience: Consistent features across all login methods create a more seamless and enjoyable experience.

Increased User Adoption: Users who prefer alternative login methods are more likely to engage with CurseForge if they have access to all features.

Professionalism: Seperate profile settings will allow for a more professional platform.

By implementing these changes, CurseForge can create a more user-friendly and privacy-conscious platform for its community.