There is zero reason to show the default portrait when one exists.

[MsQi]

Materia isn't a factor in portraits, they only check if your actual gear has changed. As of a few patches ago the system pops up a window asking you to update your portrait when you save your gear unless you manually turn that off, so there shouldn't be any issue with keeping your portraits current if you're paying attention. The check box for that option can be found under Character Menu -> Portraits if you've accidentally disabled it.




The devs released a very freeform portrait system in the beta which players promptly abused by making portraits of themselves jerking off and simulating oral sex, which forced the devs to add cumbersome restrictions. Funny how this community always conveniently leaves out its own role in these sorts of things.

I know what it is supposed to do, but it randomly decides not to do it. The gear set was updated. I hadn't change anything for that job in a long time. NONE of the things it checks for are things that wouldn't be allowed in the portrait. Position can only be changed within the portrait interface. If it is what they deem "bad" you cannot save the portrait.

dev incompetence leads them to somehow ship a worse version than their beta.

I don't think incompetence is the word. They are failing to do something but also failing to recognize that it doesn't need to be done. Is meta-incompetence a thing? This is the product of an extremely rigid mind, that just can't admit that their beautiful code that checks for all the little inconsistencies just causes headaches and doesn't solve anything.