Don't you think adapting to circumstances might mean less troubles for others and yourself in this case? Certain types of rigidity don't do anybody any favours.
T be honest, I'm amazed no one pointed this out until now. Anyway: As I have displayed, I am well aware of how others handle the situation. I choose to do something else for two reasons: 1) The use of italics is completely arbitrary. The use of an emote is slightly less arbitrary, but I dislike emotes for a variety of reasons, chief among them being I just don't understand them well - I'm never sure where to put them myself and I'm never sure how to take them when others use them. To me, they just add a few pointless characters to get in my way. While I don't mind if someone else uses these techniques (I'd prefer to never see "XD" again, sure, but I'll deal) I feel no obligation to use them myself.
2) You said being rigid didn't do me any favors (paraphrase). Isn't saying I should use italics and emotes equally rigid? It seems to me the least rigid thing to do - and the thing that does me the most favors - is to do what I have always done: Live and let live.
Or, all of that in short: That's simply not how I roll.
On the WoM, I can't comment on the future of it in terms of complaining, but I can say I'm looking forward to it. I am also pretending to be on topic. Oh, and if it makes you happy:
I am also pretending to be on topic roflolol XD Yeah, that wasn't sarcasm, that was a flippant, joking statement, for the record.