Same list as the comment under the same subject up at the top of the post. Reposted for easier reading/discussion summarying!

Just so we're clear from the start this time, I'm writing this from the standpoint of not making any changes to the Manage Settings page beyond what is already there. That means none of these proposals are optional unless that is already built in to the mechanism that the display name gets attached to. This is true even for the original suggestion up in the main post.

These are arranged about as chronologically as I'm aware of. I've hopefully listed the main pros and cons for each idea but if something really stands out to any readers as an important point that was missed, feel free to reply. (Try to list it in the subject line and go into detail in the comment so it's easier to navigate from the main comment page)


== 1 == Replace username with display name in the hover-over tooltip that currently shows "username: Keywords, Comments (Description)" when you mouse over someone's icon. ("Comments" struck out because those will be removed from the tool-tip and alt text soon)

Points of consideration
++ It's how LJ and IJ still show the display name.
-- The tool-tip is already overcrowded. With display names being 50 characters max, the info starts becoming difficult to browse.
-- May seem intimidating to new or unregistered users if the display is crowded.
-- Accessibility: screenreaders get the information in a slightly different order than we do and display name is less useful to them (see 1st cut on main post for details).
-- Usability: not everyone uses or knows the tool-tip is there. Mobile browsers and mobility-impaired users who might use automatic clickers have no way of accessing whatever is put there.
-- High-impact solution for a majority of users.

Personal thoughts
After examining how screenreaders would process the info if we were to change it, I don't think this is a good implementation because it appreciably hinders the experience of users who need screenreaders to browse the site.

== 2 == Replace username or add the display name under the username in the contextual popup menu.

Points of consideration
++ Medium-impact implementation for majority of users.
++ Plenty of space to add a display name in there.
++ For those who can see it, it saves them the extra step of navigating to a different page while browsing in order to find the display name (registered and non-registered users alike).
++ People can turn off the contextual popup if they don't want to use it, while the default is that it will show on mouse-over.
-- Inaccessible to screenreaders. Mobile browsers and people who use auto-clickers can't mouse-over to bring up the menu either.

Personal thoughts
One of my favorite ideas and actually one that was proposed in the comments of the first display names discussion brought up on dw_suggestions and again a few other places. It would operate essentially the same as the tool-tips on LJ and IJ do and satisfies people's need to turn it off if they don't like it, since that's already an option that DW lets you choose. The only drawback is that it's completely inaccessible to anyone using a screenreader or mobile device.

== 3 == Put our name into the Description of our icons.

Points of consideration
++ Very low-impact to majority of users.
++ Visible to registered and unregistered users
++ Doesn't require any new modifications to the site to use.
-- Copy-pasting a name countless times to get the same info consistent across all comments.
-- Too much work for potentially confusing pay off.
-- Only applicable to a specific use case and very unfriendly for general use throughout the site.

Personal thoughts
The description field is more properly used for describing the icons. This solution might make sense for an RP journal where the character is featured in the icons anyway so it isn't confusing to put their name there, but it's no good for personal journals where what is in the icon often has little to do with the name-identity of the user. And to reiterate, too much work for something that is better used for it's intended purpose.

== 4 == Add the display name to a new tool-tip that shows when you hover over the username.

Points of consideration
++ Uses a familiar way of checking a display name (mousing-over), just moving it to a different place.
++ Available to registered and unregistered users.
++ Low-impact implementation for majority of users
-- Again, not accessible to people who can't mouse-over something or who use screenreaders
-- A Notes system is being developed which may use tool-tips on usernames, which will conflict if it's already used for display names.

Personal thoughts
Not particularly invested in this solution, but it would certainly be doing what I want the site to give me when interacting regularly with the comment pages.

== 5 == Add the display name in the comment header.

Points of consideration
++ Makes sure display name is always connected to other unique info
++ Accessible to screenreaders, mobile devices, and normal major browsers.
++ Can be seen without additional actions by both registered and unregistered users.
-- High-impact implementation for majority of users.
-- Visual noise
-- Would frustrate users who don't bother with display names as there is currently no way to make it optional other than not to enter a display name.

Personal thoughts
I would consider this proposal the most accessible and the best way to connect icon, keywords, username, and display name all together for visual and non-visual users. However I concede it does add more visual noise to the comment header that people may be bothered by and may subconsciously lower engagement of new users scanning through a comment page.

== 6 == Make a journal style that includes display names on the header in custom comment pages.

Points of consideration
++ Guaranteed to be an opt-in implementation, which is good for the majority who don't use display names.
++ Low-impact solution for majority of users.
-- Is an opt-in implementation, it won't be used consistently throughout the site.
-- Gives control of showing display names on comment pages to the journal owner by default rather than the person commenting to whom the display name belongs.
-- Currently, comment pages and journal pages don't have separate styles, and custom comment pages get too unwieldy to use for the group of users who most consistently set a display name.
-- Requires extra engagement from a new user if they want to set it up.
-- Would also limit style options as things currently are.

Personal thoughts
While it might work out fine for a specific set of users, it's not really an idea that I feel like solves the problem for the website as a whole. Although the majority of users don't bother with a display name and not everyone uses the site the same way, I think it's good for the site to encourage more consistent use of the display name, as that's one of the first things people encounter in account creation. Whatever implementation is picked, I would prefer it to be site-wide so that it is less limiting on people who want to use it.

== 7 == Add the username and display name to the top of the inline reply box, which is what shows up when registered users click on the reply link below each comment.

Points of consideration
++ High exposure but low-impact to majority of users.
++ Unifies presentation across inline replying (which happens on the comment page) and replying by opening a new reply-to page.
++ Doesn't require mouse-over actions so it can be seen by screenreaders, mobile devices, and normal browsers.
++ Doesn't affect the usage of unregistered users if implemented alone.
-- Not something you can turn on or off
-- Unregistered users are still sent to a different page if they want to find the display name.

Personal thoughts
My second favorite idea because it still accounts for accessibility which out of the other options only the comment header idea is really also easy and accessible from the user end. It would be best to use this in conjunction with one of the hover-over ideas.