You can continue using the old design, where avatars don't show. Check under your account preferences[0] where it's either "Opt out of the redesign" or "Use new Reddit as my default experience" (I remember seeing the first, but checking just now on the old design it shows the second)
I prefer it, even though they regularly "forget" that you've opted-out of the redesign, on desktop, and "forget" that you don't want the Mobile version of their site on phone.
I prefer it, even though they regularly "forget" that you've opted-out of the redesign, on desktop, and "forget" that you don't want the Mobile version of their site on phone.
[0] https://www.reddit.com/prefs/