I'd like more choice about how I show pips. Pips per group (different colors, icons). Pips based on age (one per year). I have been adding stars to my subscribers using group icons with a custom hack to repeat the icon once for every year or part they have been members. It would be nice if this was built in.

I agree. It'd also be nice if IPB adopted the vB style of showing PIPs, which allows multiple PIPs to be displayed at once via assigning them to various groups.