A sub-section for lesser-knowns
sounds preferable to the existing threads full of posts on lesser-knowns, or at least: maybe it should be attempted for one section as a trial, & evaluated after a set time? If it fails then can be merged back/restored. Perhaps a fair bit or work to set up but possibly an interesting/fruitful experiment?
From personal experience I know that the existence of some of those single-post/single-pictorial threads (e.g. some Mayfair models) has been what prompted a connexion/recognition of additional content within other mags., and one doesn't necessarily get the same opportunity/prominence/focus when posts are only in mag. threads. The threads look ridiculous sitting there on their lonesome for x number of years with no new content added, but then suddenly they may spring to life with unexpected additions. An example of such?
Annabel Cawston (yes, OK, her thread had two posts but still). This is
not to advocate for every single model being given her own thread, but it is to add context against the argument that thread stubs with "scant" content are necessarily a serious problem. What problem do they pose, exactly? More mod. maintenance effort? Yes, but is it significantly more? More server resources? /shrug/