@Daniel2195
I am really struggling with your argument that this no-photo policy is potentially dangerous. I can understand the logic but I can't fully rationalise it. Efforts to combat discrimination have been on-going in all spheres of life for many years, at least in western democratic countries, so it's not like Airbnb is exactly breaking the mold. For example, it has been standard practice for a long time that job applications should not include a photograph. Of course, it is a different scenario when you are inviting or being invited into someone's home as a paying guest and I get that. Equating POC and LBGTQ people in this regard is not helpful. I can't tell from a photo whether you're gay or not. Whereas if you're black, it's pretty bloody obvious.
You say:
"One even had a huge bottle of jack and wore a bikini in her profile pic, while explaining in her inquiry that she wanted to rent from us because it was her 21st birthday weekend (the drinking age in U.S.). Needless to say I saw that and declined the Inquiry."
What difference did the photo make in this instance? Would you have considered accepting the booking if her photo showed her cute High School photo, all fresh-faced and buttoned up to the neck? I'm guessing no. You declined her because she wanted to have a party and no photo was necessary for you to make that decision. Most hosts would have done exactly the same!
I like to see a photo when a guest makes a booking or sends an enquiry, it's true. There is something reassuring about it - they have made an effort to create a profile and that gives the impression that they do not treat the platform as some anonymous hotel-like system. However, I place far more emphasis on what they say in their message and what is written in their profile. However, far more guests have no information in their profile than guests without a photo, in my experience. It's much easier to click 'upload' than to take time to write a few sentences, after all.