Beh, transparency isn't essential. Most of mine don't have it. You're right though, it is a pain to do. Though without is easy, case and point https://mega.nz/#!rOpREIJC!WwmPdmgmXe-PaFaXN4-hJdUE_ggw3J9N9UWu-Gw7Wfo
AK/Phantom made a script that auto assigns portraits by gender. But Ive never been able to get it to work. Always figured once there are enough male portraits/bodies out there to merit it being put in the main game, Maverik might do it.
Adorable starting slave btw
Here's a bodyguard Ive been working on.