This could maybe solve the problem with local uploading of files. Attach the file to a post and use the link of that file for the database. Would that not be an easy solution for that problem?
Such attachments often come in handy for many little things. For example when my theme is finished I have to send you the images. It would be extremely easy just to zip them and attach them to a post. I can also send them per mail, sure, but doing it at the forum is just as easy and maybe someone else wants to use the same logo I used or something, so they can download the zip as well.