if you're using google chrome there is now a fix for the photobucket image problems using an extension.
Click on the three dots at the top right of your open tab
select more tools
click on extensions
go to the link that says "get more extensions"
Type photobucket fix in the search box
click enter and install
I've tried it myself and so far so good, no issues that I have seen
http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=14789.0
Sorry never saw that thread posted...
Good reminder, I haven't done anything yet.
Photobucket is now sending emails to accounts that are still open and still of the free variety. As well as a $10 off offer there is a note that accounts that remain inactive for a year may be deleted. I assume inactive may mean no uploads in a year?
So far the browser add-on fix is still working. I keep expecting PB to do something to render the fix non-working.
Update..... I have no idea when this happened but an eagle eye member just brought this to my attention. Forum posts that had images hosted on Photobucket now have the images appearing in the topics where they were originally placed. There is a "hosted by photobucket" watermark, but that is better than no image at all.