Yeah, I know about the symbolic link. Trying to avoid it, just incase anything goes wrong.
I've tried the method you mentioned in game too, but it keeps setting back to the default after I accept it.
It's alright though, turns out the portrait pack was a tad smaller than I was expecting it to be so it didn't use much space. I'll just sacrifice it for the good of the game, no more blank faceless people. :-) Now... to figure out what mods are best to use.