I know that when you change your default icon, it changes the icon in any post that used the default. However, I think that if you were to upload a "replacement" icon, it would actually just function as a new one, even if you used the same keywords for it. Just a guess, though (but easy enough to test out).
Deleting a userpic and uploading a new one with the same keyword will change the userpic in old posts. Uploading a pic with the same keyword as an existing pic will change the keyword of the old one to something random (e.g., "pic#8387348"). Deleting a pic will change old posts that use that pic to your current default pic.
Either way works. I deleted a pic, noted an old post went back to the default pic, then uploaded a new pic with the same keyword, and noted that the old post went to the new pic. It's robust. Looks like the post keeps the keyword as a pointer no matter what, and if it doesn't find a pic with that keyword then it throws up the default.
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Date: 2008-10-03 02:23 pm (UTC)One of these days you're going to have to update your icon. Or set up a cron job to do it so it stays in sync with the solar system.
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Date: 2008-10-03 02:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-03 02:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-03 02:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-03 03:31 pm (UTC)After testing
Date: 2008-10-03 03:43 pm (UTC)Re: After testing
Date: 2008-10-03 03:45 pm (UTC)Re: After testing
Date: 2008-10-03 03:53 pm (UTC)Re: After testing
Date: 2008-10-03 03:57 pm (UTC)Re: After testing
Date: 2008-10-04 03:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-05 02:37 am (UTC)