Actually it would be cool to add a check box 'allow this to be displayed' which would solve both issues. I always assume that if folks don't put an email there then they don't care to be contacted and leave it at that.
If that was the case then anyone who used it would show a plain x@y.com, whereas some people prefer x (at) y (dot) com.
By adding the check box some people would have it in the about section and some would have it in an email section and it would be inconsistent. And inconsistency is just ugly.
Edit: A nice way round this would be being able to specify how your email is displayed.
