Morty,
Let us try to clear things up, shall we?
First off, the clear fact is that your problem is not with Icons, but rather with prayer to and veneration of Saints. Unless, that is, you propose it is okay to pray to Saints, as long a Icons are not present.
Secondly, your essay is rife with logical fallacies; especially, though not exclusively, in the use of begging the question, strawman and red herring fallacies.
Strawman
For example: "It is the belief that they must be prayed to, instead of praying directly to God..."
No one teaches that Icons are to be prayed to, and nobody teaches that Saints should be prayed to instead of God, but rather in addition. This is a strawman.
Red Herring
Your "Other Considerations" subsection is a perfect example of the red herring fallacy. What does depictions of the Father have to do with the subject matter you are presenting? Nothing.
Furthermore, if any of us were to hold Lutherans to the standard you are measuring Orthodoxy by, we could conclude that Lutheranism teaches everything from abortion to gay marriage to atheism.
Begging the Question
Let me just provide you with examples:
"Praying to Saints as intercessors... grossly separates us from God."
"Praying to Saints through Icons is what finally identifies Icons as a form of Idolatry."
You don't prove anything, you merely assert.
And that's not even touching upon your made up history, that fits your assumed premise.
Furthermore, some of these assertions just don't make sense; such as the condemnation of "praying for specific needs/outcomes." Is okay to just pray to shoot the breeze and say "wut up?" Off the top of my head, I can think of three main reasons for praying, and asking for something is usually at the top of the list.
Lotar's Rarely Heeded, But Helpfull, Advice
1.) Get some books on introductory philosophy and rules of debate, or better yet, enroll in a class or two at you local community college. Logical Fallacies only undermine your argument and credibility.
2.) Have some humility, and do not assume that if someone reads your post, the answers to their questions will be made abundantly clear. Consider that people may have read your essay and still need clarification.