Typing manually does work. I have cleared all the settings so as to allow smilies, logged out, cleared cookies, logged back in -- no effect.
Except today, I can see the "thumbs up" icon for titles -- but only the words (no graphic) for "thumbs down" for the title! I really don't think this is a browser issue on my end...

(which I can type manually and see as an icon, in the preview at least)