An image thread helps if people actually use it, and don't post ten graphics to one comment before it has time to collapse. Such as a general graphics thread, sub-divided within that thread for gifs, pics, picspams, etc - that will collapse a lot faster.

And people can do spoiler-cuts in comments, yep. So just say 'there are pictures under here!' + all warnings re: triggery material and sexual content, and then spoiler-cut, and that'd be MUCH more friendly. I've had to duck out of a lot of all-things-friday posts due to the number of graphics. And if people just want to have a post for graphics, then say in the post itself 'warning: graphics heavy'.