I feel like I missed some context to this thread... but I admit, some of the details of my non-transition life are obscured for the same reason I don't use a photo of myself, namely that I'd be potentially too recognizable IRL. And I'd rather be honest about things like describing my GRS in full detail here, which I do *not* want linked back to my real identity (it'd be too creepy/weird if my coworkers and acquaintances knew every detail about my genitalia!).
I used to think I was too paranoid, until a brand-new coworker actually did put together my past public career with my current incarnation using only Google and extrapolation, and then came and confronted me with a video of my male self. UGH. I mean, I'm not stealth, and it's not that hard to connect that particular set of dots, but I like to be in control of what I tell people and how.