[Server Side Baking Doesn't Work. Period.]

Right click on your avi, then appearance, then the pie slice "tex refresh" - that is now (at least with Firestorm) the "rebaking" feature.

[boring]

It's not a game in the any sense of the word!  It's a social networking site with visuals! 

[Avatar stuck as a cloud/egg]

For me, the few times it's happened, somehow my "bald" hair base has come off and I have on "ruth hair fix".  I simply put on - "wear" -  my bald hair base again and voila!  I'm not a cloud!  )

[Jacked Up Avatar]

The best thing to do is make a new folder and in it put a copy of everything you normally (your avatar) has on INCLUDING skin, shape, hair and bald hair base, eyes, AO, shirt, and pants in there.  Then, the next time (or maybe even this time!) you're *ruthed*, WEAR the folder.  Do NOT put everything on separately as you normally would, just "wear" the folder.  Right click and wear.  This should fix your avi.  Then you should be able to change clothes again normally.  Hope this helps!

[Stiff hands and fingers?]

My avi sometimes has the problem and I notice it after using poseballs - not all poseballs, just some.  Doesn't happen on dance balls/intans.  I've always wondered about it too.  I just log off and relog and then the problem is fixed.