Nice subject!
I totally agree with you, it definitely is a commitment. Piercings will leave holes forever and tattoos, although they can be removed, will leave scars no matter how big the tattoo is. That's why I ask people who tell me they want a tattoo if they've thought about it LONG enough and can see themselves with it in 10, 20 years.
I regret my belly button piercing because now there is a hole there, my tongue piercing hole is not visible obviously

But so far I haven't regretted my tattoos but not sure what I'll think about them in another 10 years.
So I hope people really understand that it IS a commitment!