Allow Players To Be Able Make A Custom Avatar, Regardless Of Being Staff Or Not.
You're free to
make a custom avatar - for the fun of it, or to contribute as an artist. However, you cannot use custom avatars made by you or anybody else unless you meet either of the following:
Pokemon Showdown global staff.
Pokemon Showdown Section Leader.
Smogon badgeholder (4 minimum excluding tier badge) + Global Voice.
Be recognized as an artist or technical contributor to PS.
Win any room-hosted tournaments or events that awards custom avatars.
The reason for this is because custom avatars are usually uploaded by a single person who happens to be the creator of the sim. He uploads those who earned a CA sporadically (whenever he is able to), so it would be too hectic if everyone were able to have their own custom representation.