When the "zoom" is clicked to bring on the larger version of the image, aren't we getting what was uploaded in the first place(with or without artifacts)? I am not compressing to gallery or forum page display size since Renderosity does that.    

I don't see too many images when "zoomed" with dreadful artifacts but a few are there and yes, that ruins it for viewing.

Gradient makes sense and much larger than 800 x600 or so starts to demand scrolling which is annoying in trying to see the whole image at once.