SuttaCentral
I prefer to bow to the Buddha in my own heart, instead of facing a stylized image that bears little resemblance to an ancient Indian monk. (Why all that hair? Why the gold?) “Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi" or “Iti pi so” stir up more devotion for me than most Buddharupā.
Do others feel this way?
Best wishes all! 
You’re not alone! Ajahn Buddhadasa in Thailand was famously also a proponent of aniconism.
The Metta Centre in Sydney, when it was a physical space, had an empty seat to represent the Buddha. I like that
So, replacing one preference with another. The bottom line, I imagine, is whether this dislike for imagery somehow may reinforce clinging as you keep entertaining it. Buddham saranam gacchami is no different than bowing deeply, and bowing deeply is no different than remaining still.
The preference is there, yes… but there is also no “dislike” of imagery.
As part of the schedule at my Wat, we bow before the Buddha images 2-3 times daily. The statue itself is quite beautiful; I feel gratitude when I prostrate.
But when I bow in the forest, it feels like I’m in touch with something deeper.
Makes total sense! 
I have always felt uncomfortable with statues of “the Buddha” and I don’t have any. The visualization in my mind of the Buddha is of him sitting under the rose apple tree or him sitting in meditation for seven days after his awakening. It’s inspiring to me.
I really like having a small Buddha statue and a few images of the Buddha. But the best I’ve felt practicing Buddhānussati, was when I was listening to a chant and envisioning the Buddha saying it, or reading a Sutta and imagining being in his presence, or visualizing the Buddha as the light of the world during meditation. A statue can just not do that for me.
I have mixed feelings about the Buddha statues.
On one hand, the image of a man sitting in meditation was what really drew me to meditation / Buddhism to begin with, whether is was Shiva or Buddha I didn’t really know.
Now though, the modern greek influenced Buddha statue doesn’t really connect with the Buddha I read from the suttas.
This might be a preference and aversion, but to give an extreme absurd example to make a point, I’m sure it wouldn’t make much sense to make statues of the Buddha in gold and diamond chains and stacks of dollars.
Obviously the modern Buddha statue isn’t that extreme, but my point is, there is a line where representation stops working as intended, and it’s hard to say where that line is.
With all that said, I still keep a few Buddha statues around the house, because hey, I like seeing people sitting in meditation. 
I actually really like Buddha rupas. I have had the same one since 2010 which I picked up in Thailand and have carried around with me to various monasteries. I also have a travel buddha rupa that’s about 4cm tall which I carry around with me if I’m going to be away for more than a few days. I like to have something to bow to.
I know that’s not what the Buddha looked like. but a red hexagon isn’t what a car stopping looks like either. Both have important meanings.
Nor, indeed, an octagon 
My mind was so convinced this was a ‘six sided square’ when I was typing 
I should have known not to trust it at this point!
saññā anicca
sabbe saṅkhāra anattā’ti
Maybe someone put a hex on you! 
