You can do this via member groups now there's no need for this hack. Create an additional usergroup and give that group an image in the boxes provided for your code. Upload an image and add this new group to a user. The image will show up by the avatar.
Someone contributes, add the group to them. (so now they are in two groups. normal member whatever and contributor group)
VB provides great new tools, understanding what you can do with them takes some time to see though.
IMO of course.