user166: I’ve just made a quite substantial edit to an answer. I didn’t change any of the content, just the formatting which I found excessive and consequently disruptive.
Now, the original formatting is certainly not recommended. My question is whether my edit was acceptable or whether such “trivial” edits are frowned upon here.
In fact, were it up to me I’d even remove the unnecessary image1 but I refrained from this.
I’d like to establish a community guideline / FAQ. Can we get a consensus on editing other people’s posts?
For comparison: yes, on other Stack Exchange communities such edits are – generally – encouraged, as long as they don’t destroy the original answer or make it worse (e.g. inaccurate). There is no consensus on the use of decorative images (that I’m aware of).

1) Especially since it’s probably copyrighted, used without permission, and isn’t covered by fair use.

user810: The answer you linked to is of very low quality, so I'd say do whatever you can to salvage it. 
Definitely remove decorative images: they add absolutely nothing and encourage more worthless gimmicks. 
Personally, I think images in general should be used sparingly, since they have potential to draw attention away from more useful content. 

166: <p>I’ve just made a quite substantial edit to <a href="https://biology.stackexchange.com/a/2072/166">an answer</a>. I didn’t change any of the content, just the formatting which I found excessive and consequently disruptive.</p>

<p>Now, the original formatting is certainly not recommended. <strong>My question is whether my edit was acceptable</strong> or whether such “trivial” edits are frowned upon here.</p>

<p>In fact, <a href="https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/92560/1968">were it up to me I’d even remove the unnecessary image</a><sup>1</sup> but I refrained from this.</p>

<p>I’d like to establish a community guideline / FAQ. <strong>Can we get a consensus on editing other people’s posts?</strong></p>

<p>For comparison: yes, on other Stack Exchange communities such edits are – generally – encouraged, as long as they don’t destroy the original answer or make it worse (e.g. inaccurate). There is no consensus on the use of decorative images (that I’m aware of).</p>

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<p><sup>1)</sup> Especially since it’s probably copyrighted, used without permission, and isn’t covered by fair use.</p>
 810: <p>The answer you linked to is of very low quality, so I'd say do whatever you can to salvage it. </p>

<p>Definitely remove decorative images: they add absolutely nothing and encourage more worthless gimmicks. </p>

<p>Personally, I think images in general should be used sparingly, since they have potential to draw attention away from more useful content. </p>
