'Reposting' forms an important part of a critique, it not only helps the poster, but hundreds of other people too. "A picture paints a thousand words" In this instance it may say one thousand before, but several thousand after critical changes have been made to the image to enhance it, especially exposure/contrast and colour corrections. So many people have dumped images as no-hopers, when all they need was a little tweek here and there to turn it into at least a keeper. Here, I think we have helped greatly. In fact this is obvious from later postings by post-critique individuals.
At the end of the day (just to ensure we're in the correct place) no copyright infringement has taken place as the image is still 100% that of the original photographer, and so far no poster encouraging critique, even of the lowest magnetude has complained.
There is only so much you can do to a photograph in critique, one cannot or should not move things around to completely change the photo's composition. The originator learns nothing from it. A crop is different, and an important skill to learn in image presentation - As Kasey pointed out.
This is why I posted the image manipulation thread in critique, to enable people to rethink before posting an image in the competitions.
As Eric pointed out there have been obvious "Jokes" but done in the best possible taste with an obvious humour (like Eric's Octo-hat).
Ad Agencies may take 12 images and turn it into a one page composition - Nothing wrong with that as long as all the images come from one photographer or consenting adults - The difference here is that it's no longer a photo but a 'graphic representation'.
The what camera statement - Yes, it can be important as advice for DSLR's will differ to that say of a Oly 5050, but this is taking the thread off track again.