So I looked back to this thread. I agree with all the people who say some of those are overcomplicated.
I would redo the suggested emotions, but I kind of feel like most of you who posted didn't want all of those, but one or two of them. Especially the paw pointing. Honestly, of all those, I think only the laugh without paw will make it.
I once again brainstormed about a solution for the required space and I can't really think of something other than a custom arrangeable menu.
I don't have the photo editing skills of others who suggest on this subforum, so I'll ask you to imagine the following;
The same old two lines of emoticons, but with a little arrow on the side. When clicked, a menu with other emoticons will drop. You could click, and have the menu hidden again/kept open, and the animation done, or you could click, hold and drag it over the two lines of emoticons and it will replace one of the emoticons that are already there. Emoticons that are replaced will go back to the menu.

Regarding the lag: particles. Particles turned off and there goes most of the lag.

Responses:

So, well...should I redo the whole suggestion over? Or is it doomed to fail anyway?