Do what you want... Im at 00g now, and have recently been wanting to go up to 7/16" main reason I DONT want to is because Ive spent (in my eyes) alot of money on 00g stuff... around $50 i think? funnily enough I wear the same set all the time...

But yeah, Ive taken mine out at 00g and they close up pretty good after only a week. Like, you cant even see through the hole, BUT it is like indented as you may or may not expect... I think eventually it heals up and will flatten out but I dont want to find out It will get good enough that you dont have holes in your ear though...

Also yeah, Id hope this stuff is more acceptable now... Im at 00g and its nothing outrageous. People dont really notice anything, most people dont even know thats actually how big the hole is until I tell them. They usually think its some weird earring or something I guess...

Ive seen many people at my college campus with plugs larger than me, and a few over 2" which I would never do...

Tattoos and old people... thats why you get them re inked and stuff... most people let them fade in the sun thats why they look so bad.