@skyjake.fi has demonstrated an online-image via a Gemini data URL. @metamatters at thgonz.net speaks out in opposition.
"No inline images" has been an important feature of Gemini from the start. As I see it, it's key to the textual focus which is one of the main things which distinguishes Gemini from the web.
Skyjake partially rejoins:
These restrictions, and the difficulty of encoding the data, should already be enough of a deterrent to prevent widespread use of image data URLs, while keeping the door open to interesting UI experimentation, as suggested by the "rich" image pages section in my previous post.
That was the theory. Then javascript, AJAX, and massive abuse of links and embedded code turned the Web into the mess we how attempt to escape. Tools are easy to build to overcome "the deterrent". That's not a defense.
Skyjake's user options, like browser options to suppress cookies, images, and javascript, do not eliminate the excess link bloat, even in text, if you want "smol".
That said, I suspect many will want what Skyjake proposes and, like the Web, most of us will learn to ignore the links and stop them from opening. The loads will go up but for now our transfer rates are a bit north of 2400 baud.
Skyjake has written an excellent personal summary. Many good things to think about.
More anon.