It looks like imgur is no longer blocking the image proxy. I didn't change anything on the forum's end, so imgur must've loosened up their limits. I guess it's not necessary to convert img images into links as long as imgur keeps working. But to prevent this from happening again, you'll get an error if you try to embed imgur images in posts from now on.
Good call regarding future uploads on imgur. However, has an opinion, I don't think we should relax with imgur loosening their limits because then we would just be in an illusion thinking that we are safe. What will happen if imgur decides to push their plan eventually in the future? Or starts implementing more enforced rules? I think that this change is good, mostly because it will give us some time to keep discussing the best way to preserve our forum history. But for that I think that it would be wise to continue discussing it, now a bit more relaxed indeed.
I'd like to create a page which recommends services for hosting forum images, and mention this in the error message you get when you try to use imgur. Other than TalkImg, which ones are good?
I personally use vgy.me[1] because I like their privacy statement[2] and never had problems with them (so far) but that mostly has to due with them also not having the same reach as imgur:
We only use your personal information to moderate the website, to remove content that violates our Terms of Service and to ban users who also violate the Terms of Service. Sending of e-mail is triggered by you, the user, when resetting your password or when registering an account with us, where you will receive an activation link via e-mail. We don't send you e-mails for any other reason.
Your IP address is used for moderation to link uploads to the same IP address (we occasionally get users who spam our uploader with hundreds, sometimes thousands of uploads). IP addresses are also logged for us to understand where most of our traffic comes from, so we can provide a better service.
3rd party services who use cookies to store data about your visit is not controlled by us.
If you don't like your information on our site, let us know - we'll get rid of it.
[1]
https://vgy.me[2]
https://vgy.me/privacy-policy