@acadia: 'I think it's just another example of why a forum model would be much better than using the gallery."  Do you mean instead or in addition to the Art Theory forum?
People started to use  it  for discussing their WIP. It just isnt used that much yet.  
However it isnt true that pictures in 'real'  galleries are above critique. There are newspaper, radio etc. and those critics can be realy harsh. There are also guest books for gallery visitors. It just isnt  expected that the artist will make a new version.
My view is that work in its initial stages should be put in a forum(art theory or new one) as you suggested, but I dont see why work in the gallery shouldnt get an honest critique if the person  explicitly said they want it.  If  I  think an image is final and I dont want any additional critical comments, I can choose the relevant option.
(I already  suggested above a way to fix the related problems.  Havnt heard from any admin/technical staff if it's realy mission impossible.)

"I paint that which comes from the imagination or from dreams, or from an unconscious drive. I photograph the things that I do not wish to paint, the things which already have an existence."
Man Ray, modernist painter
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