Trash you are WRONG don't post incorrect information in the future please.
The Mess patch does break the EULA you agree too upon installing messenger as it modifies the executable, so it is 'illegal' but it's not exactly going to put you in the slammer, hell even messenger team use it themselves (as discovered on Mess.be)
There are some things patches can do which Skins cannot (they can edit the hex strings etc of the file to adjust parameters of features)
But there are some skins for plus about that will have the customization features you want
(I personally always try to add them to every skin I make)
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