I heard one SSPX priest give me a metaphor as to why it isn't proper and even sinful to get a tattoo, and I have held on to that interpretation since.
"Would you say that spray painting graffiti on a church building's exterior is morally acceptable, even if you graffiti an image of the Virgin Mary on the exterior? Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we should honor the beauty with which God has given us - not ink it with our own artistic designs."
I wouldn't say that "this for sure is sinful" and tell a person to remove a tattoo if they want to receive Communion, but I wouldn't ever get a tattoo.
Plus, maybe I'm selfish, but I honestly don't find tattoos attractive.
I haven't bothered reading this thread all the way through, but if someone pointed it out, the Old Testament condemns tattoos - but one can argue that tattoos were used in conjunction with voodoo, which is the primary cause of its condemnation. The New Testament tends to be more silent on tattoos.
I personally disagree with voodoo being the ONLY reason it was condemned, but that is simply an opinion.