Good on ya Scott, look what you've started.
But I do think smile icons have their place. there are lots of people I've upset by assuming they'd understand my richardheadedness (sorry Daddles)
Struth Kenmill got banned for something which caused me to spray red wine all over the keyboard. He obviously thought he was funny and so did I, but others thought he was a pratt. Expecting others to have a similar grasp on this language as oneself is probably at best naive and at worst condescending.
But there should be a limit on their usage as Sir Darren noted a few weeks ago.