At /account/privacy under Start conversations with you: you can temporarily disable the conversation system just for you.
For the link /conversations/add?to=Alfa you can put a rewrite rule to your .htaccess to a specific forum or something else.
:)
I'm using the "PHP built-in GD image library" setting and can use .gif as avatars. ;)
"Maximum large avatar file size (bytes)" checked at the usergroups?