How Important Are Face Claims?

I have actually found it really difficult to find sites/places that even have them as optional let alone none at all- I often find them allowing one form or the other ("real" vs "cartoon/anime") and very rarely do I see "mixed" or both.

Personally, I don't like faceclaims myself at all. I use descriptions for my character and sometimes art I have made or commissioned instead- a picrew or something as a placeholder on occasions.

I'll use them if I have to, and lean toward the anime style in that case...but the requirement does act as a heavy factor in not joining a place at all if I'm on the fence/not fully sold on the place before it's taken into account