Photo upload?

 From what it looks like we have to upload from a website such as Photobucket etc. Why can't we upload directly from our computer, memory card, or flash drive? Maybe we can, but maybe we can't. Would be much more simple.

Sure you can.  Just become a paid member of the site.  Roadfood Insider members can upload images.

Photos take up bandwidth, bandwidth costs money.

I post about as many pictures on here as anyone else and I don't have a problem hotlinking from another host.

Even as a Roadfood Insider you still have to upload and then link don't you to have a photo appear in a message? There are some boards like Chowhound with no IMG linking capability that you have to upload directly to the message but upload you have to do. Then you have no control over the presentation such as size of photo. There are other boards that require you to upload to their board and then do the IMG link and get chastised if you don't. I no longer contribute there. Personally I prefer to IMG link from the photo library of my choice so I can manage MY photos my way. Photobucket has been the easiest and most reliable for me.