Anyone have any idea at all..? Or is 'maximum' avatar size (quote: "may be smaller") just a bit of a misnomer and you have to live with the resizing?
I think that it is not so much of a misnomer, as it is just not entirely clear. I
think it means that you may upload a smaller size up to a max, but either way it will display the max and anything smaller will be re-sized. It's probably designed for uniformity to trump, since it's cleaner/easier on the eyes. However, I understand your frustration when all previously uploaded avatars distort with a size change.
Since your current setting is 48px x 60px, my suggestion would be to change your max size to 80px x 100px (instead of increasing to 100 x 100). This will keep the same height-width ratio intact to avoid having your existing avatars stretched width-wise.
(Btw, the stock avatars are 48 x 48 (a square) and are currently being distorted at 48 x 60 anyway, so I wouldn't use them to judge if you make a change.)
Just an idea!
http://www.gear-ratio-calculator.com
