apply some limits to texture use

It seems odd to me that we have limits placed on all resources in the world, except textures.

I mean, we are limited in how many prims we can use, how big the prims can be, how long our sound files can be, how large our scripts can be.

But there seems to be no limit on how many textures we can use in a particular area, or the size (in pixels) of those textures, or the file size of the textures.

I don't see how the Lindens (as providers of server resources) can ever reasonably predict what server or client performance will be when the customers are allowed to use textures without limits.

I hate limits as much as the next user, but I don't understand the complete freedom to consume bandwidth and cycles with insane texture usage.

The decision seems to be either oversight (understandable) or an assumption that textures are the MOST important resource in our virtual world.

Am I completely off-base here? (Its been known to happen)

If we have a maximum number of textures per account, then we have to have the ability to delete textures we own that we no longer need, to make room for the new ones.

But, if we do that, suddenly someone's clothing or weapon or vehicle will get some blank faces! And the customers will be yelling about "planned obsolescence" and "refunds" and "cement shoes".

Perhaps what we need is an occasional resource-sweep which removes all textures that have not been loaded by anyone in over 3 months. But even then, someone will rez something they bought 3 months and 1 day ago.