I knew I should have X-posted this. :-)

I think you are being just a bit too broad on this Draco, when you say
"using a persons image for profit". I can take a lot of photos of people
and use then for profit with out a release, it really all depends on the
nature of how I am making my profit.  As an example I shoot a lot of
photos of people in canoe races, I could put together a book of these
and sell it for profit and there would be no need for a model release.

What I could not do is use any of the photo to endorse a produce, or
political point of view. I also could not use the photos to unfairly
portray someone as something that they are not.  I also could not sell,
 a photo that would reveal some private aspect of someone, if there is
nothing about that private aspect that is in the public good to know.

In the case of the card it sounds like the fellow was portrayed in a
very unfaltering way, this is likely going to be the basis for the legal
action, just having your face on a postcard would not be enough.  At
least in USA law, whether there are state laws that are more restrictive
I don't know, nor how likely a more restrictive law would hole up.

Scott