I'm not arguing against the possibility of DF coming with a graphics set. I don't really see what the big advantage of them is since I look at the graphics sets and I'm positive I wouldn't know what they are supposed to represent if it was my first time playing the game anyway, but if some folks find it less intimidating that way, good. I would approve of some set or another coming with DF, even set as default. I would just turn it off myself.
I don't like the idea of Toady or somebody outright saying every creature that has been added just so some people can make sure their tileset includes every new creature as soon as possible. Is it really such a big deal to see an A or a G every so often among your icons? You would 'k' over them the first time to see what exactly they are anyway, icon or not. And after the first time you would associate whatever you saw with the critter until somebody made a icon for them. Besides, unless Toady does implement a graphics set with the game it's probably going to be a day, maybe two before anybody gets their sets working at all with the new version.
I know all the creatures and such are going to be mentioned everywhere once the game comes out, despite my objections, but I would like it to at least not happen before the new version is even released. So that folks that like a surprise can enjoy it for a short time.
As for the learning curve forcing people to spoil themselves,, I didn't know about HFS til about 2 months after I started playing, and by that time I was competent enough to not need the wiki to play normally. I wouldn't have known about it at all(until I encountered it), if somebody hadn't outright described it in the open on the forum.