I'm using the basic view with no avitars.
On some players, there's a little star at the top of their avitar circle.
What the heck does that mean?
It means they are currently logged in and playing via the .net software. You could see them later without the star as well if they log in via the .com softward because it's possible to have both .net and .com software installed at the same time (for whatever reason).
If I may, I would suggest to you, that including the avatars in your setup would be beneficial to your game.
Now it may be that I am a live player and I have always used visual cues to remind me of a players characteristics, but besides all the other information available, unique avatars seem to awake my brain to obtain a slight bit of extended edge.
Of course, on Full Tilt Poker I turn off the avatars